|
Drilling to Save Aswan Obelisk Quarry |
|
Written by Randy Post
|
|
Sunday, 02 December 2007 |
|
The Ancient Egyptians are still marveled at today for some
of their enduring hard-rock creations. Of course everyone thinks of the Sphinx
and the Great Pyramids, but perhaps just as impressive if not more impressive
were the gigantic obelisks that were quarried and somehow transported into
place. There is work underway to preserve a rare archaeological site, a granite
quarry with a large unfinished obelisk near Aswan.
Archaeological evidence combined with some shallow
seismic refraction surveys and bore holes confirm the finding of a canal believed
to have been used to transport these obelisks to the Nile River
during flooding. However, dewatering will be needed to excavate these canals to
verify these claims. Another problem is the salt deposits that are slowly
destroying the quarry. National Driller Magazine is the location of this
interesting article. Link after the break. (Photo by Son of Groucho)
Article on National Driller Magazine.
Related Items:
Trackback(0)
|
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 December 2007 )
|