{{Imageneed|''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]''}}
'''Understand who were the people involved in the creation of ancient [[Egypt|Egyptian]] monuments, and understand the techniques used to quarry stone blocks and transport monuments.'''
'''Understand who were the people involved in the creation of ancient [[Egypt|Egyptian]] monuments, and understand the techniques used to quarry stone blocks and transport monuments.'''
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|-|Who Were The Workers?=
|-|Who Were The Workers?=
[[File:DTAE - Deir el Medina - Set Maat.png|thumb|250px|Deir el Medina - Set Maat (The Place of Truth) / 2012]]
Whether workers were employed for the pyramid construction or at the quarries, the government supplied food and housing.
Whether workers were employed for the pyramid construction or at the quarries, the government supplied food and housing.
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|-|Multiple Qualifications=
|-|Multiple Qualifications=
[[File:DTAE - Statue of Overseer and family.png|thumb|250px|Statue of the Overseer of Stonemasons Senbebu and Family / 12th Dynasty]]
Skilled architects and engineers were employed year-round, while support labor were often farmers who worked on the quarries or construction during the Nile's flood season.
Skilled architects and engineers were employed year-round, while support labor were often farmers who worked on the quarries or construction during the Nile's flood season.
Archeological research shows that no food was stored or prepared on site, but instead workers received abundant rations of bread, beer and meat.
Archeological research shows that no food was stored or prepared on site, but instead workers received abundant rations of bread, beer and meat.
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|-|Transportation On Land=
|-|Transportation On Land=
While some quarries were closer to the Nile, others were located across the desert and required long expeditions.
[[File:DTAE - Sledge from Senwosret I mortuary complex.png|thumb|250px|Sledge from mortuary complex of Senwosret I / 12th Dynasty]]
While some quarries were closer to the [[Nile]], others were located across the desert and required long expeditions.
These expeditions were sanctioned by the state. They involved complex logistics, and required many participants.
These expeditions were sanctioned by the state. They involved complex logistics, and required many participants.
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|-|Moving Stone Blocks=
|-|Moving Stone Blocks=
[[File:DTAE - Transport of Thothotep's statue relief.png|thumb|250px|Transport of Thothotep's statue, [facsimile] in Reise zum Tempel des jupiter Ammon... by Heinrich von Minutoili 1824 [detail]]]
Whenever possible, blocks were toppled from a higher elevation onto the sled.
Whenever possible, blocks were toppled from a higher elevation onto the sled.
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|-|Transportation On Water=
|-|Transportation On Water=
[[File:DTAE Pyramids of Gizeh - Jean Claude Golvin.png|thumb|250px|Gizeh - Overview of Kheops pyramids / 1997]]
During flood season, the Nile was at its largest and deepest, which allowed the transportation of the heaviest and biggest loads.
During flood season, the Nile was at its largest and deepest, which allowed the transportation of the heaviest and biggest loads.
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|-|The Ouadi el-Jarf Papyri=
|-|The Ouadi el-Jarf Papyri=
[[File:DTAE - Ouadi el-Jarf Papyri.png|thumb|250px|Papyrus telling the daily lives of port workers who transported huge limestone blocks to Cairo during King Khufu's rule / 2016]]
The Ouadi el-Jarf papyri detail a [[limestone]] load intended for the [[Khufu]] [[Great Pyramid of Giza|pyramid]] that weighed in at 70-80 tons, or thirty blocks.
The Ouadi el-Jarf papyri detail a [[limestone]] load intended for the [[Khufu]] [[Great Pyramid of Giza|pyramid]] that weighed in at 70-80 tons, or thirty blocks.
One papyrus is a fragment from a foreman's notes taken while working on the Great Pyramid. It details the transportation of limestone blocks from the {{Wiki|Tura, Egypt|Tura}} quarries to the construction site of the pyramid.
One papyrus is a fragment from a foreman's notes taken while working on the Great Pyramid. It details the transportation of limestone blocks from the {{Wiki|Tura, Egypt|Tura}} quarries to the construction site of the pyramid.
The other papyri are shipping logs containing archives of the sailors assigned to sail the [[Red Sea]] and the [[Nile]].
The other papyri are shipping logs containing archives of the sailors assigned to sail the [[Red Sea]] and the Nile.
|-|Stone Cargo=
|-|Stone Cargo=
[[File:DTAE - Temple relief showing water transportation.png|thumb|250px|Temple relief showing water transportation, Tomb of Paheri / 2012]]
Stone cargo generally weighed 15 tons per boat, amounting to roughly six or seven blocks per trip.
Stone cargo generally weighed 15 tons per boat, amounting to roughly six or seven blocks per trip.
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|-|River Transportation=
|-|River Transportation=
[[File:DTAE - Temple of Der-el Bah'eri inscription.png|thumb|250px|Inscription from the terrace temple of Der-el Bah'eri / 1869 / Historical inscriptions of ancient Egyptian monument, by Johannes Dümichen]]
River transportation was the most efficient way to ferry stone blocks between the quarry and the construction site.
River transportation was the most efficient way to ferry stone blocks between the quarry and the construction site.
Latest revision as of 12:21, 1 July 2023
Understand who were the people involved in the creation of ancient Egyptian monuments, and understand the techniques used to quarry stone blocks and transport monuments.
Deir el Medina - Set Maat (The Place of Truth) / 2012
Whether workers were employed for the pyramid construction or at the quarries, the government supplied food and housing.
Workers for the pyramids and royal necropolises were housed in more permanent villages such as the famous Deir el-Medina. Quarry workers had more temporary lodgings.
Al skill levels were needed and utilized, from basic workhands to prepare the gypsum, to brick makers and sand carriers, to skilled stonemasons to shape the blocks.
Statue of the Overseer of Stonemasons Senbebu and Family / 12th Dynasty
Skilled architects and engineers were employed year-round, while support labor were often farmers who worked on the quarries or construction during the Nile's flood season.
The basic laborers were hard-working and versatile. Many may have been farmers who joined the construction during the off-season. Hieroglyphs found in the work villages listed assigned job titles.
Large Oval Storage Basket / 18th Dynasty
Archeological research shows that no food was stored or prepared on site, but instead workers received abundant rations of bread, beer and meat.
These rations were taken care of by an administration outside the village.
Medical treatment was also available for those who were injured.
Sledge from mortuary complex of Senwosret I / 12th Dynasty
While some quarries were closer to the Nile, others were located across the desert and required long expeditions.
These expeditions were sanctioned by the state. They involved complex logistics, and required many participants.
Transporting a block by land meant that workers had to overcome the weight and friction of the load.
To solve this, they first dug a track in the ground. This path was sometimes reinforced with rails upon which a sled used to ferry the blocks would be pulled.
Transport of Thothotep's statue, [facsimile] in Reise zum Tempel des jupiter Ammon... by Heinrich von Minutoili 1824 [detail]
Whenever possible, blocks were toppled from a higher elevation onto the sled.
Workers then poured water onto the clay at the front of the sled, creating a slick surface to more easily move the load.
It wasn't until the New Kingdom that animals were used to tow the burden.
Gizeh - Overview of Kheops pyramids / 1997
During flood season, the Nile was at its largest and deepest, which allowed the transportation of the heaviest and biggest loads.
Quarries close to the river had troughs dug out to deliver the stones to the shoreline.
Harbors and wharfs situated at the river's edge allowed the transfer of materials and supplies. Harbor warehouses accommodated additional stocks of stone so that they were available for the winter sailing season.
Papyrus telling the daily lives of port workers who transported huge limestone blocks to Cairo during King Khufu's rule / 2016
The Ouadi el-Jarf papyri detail a limestone load intended for the Khufupyramid that weighed in at 70-80 tons, or thirty blocks.
One papyrus is a fragment from a foreman's notes taken while working on the Great Pyramid. It details the transportation of limestone blocks from the Tura quarries to the construction site of the pyramid.
The other papyri are shipping logs containing archives of the sailors assigned to sail the Red Sea and the Nile.
Temple relief showing water transportation, Tomb of Paheri / 2012
Stone cargo generally weighed 15 tons per boat, amounting to roughly six or seven blocks per trip.
For heavier Loads such as obelisks, monolithic pillars or gigantic statues, larger boats were used. These transports are the ones typically showcased on temple walls.
Inscription from the terrace temple of Der-el Bah'eri / 1869 / Historical inscriptions of ancient Egyptian monument, by Johannes Dümichen
River transportation was the most efficient way to ferry stone blocks between the quarry and the construction site.
Blocks were transported by flotillas of several types of boats.
The most detailed illustration of transport by river is a relief of Queen Hatshepsut's barge with an accompanying flotilla.