Each time we talk about the pyramid, Toutiao's group of friends ask how the granite on the pyramid is cut.
Before we talk about this issue, we need to clarify one thing, namely the building materials of the pyramid. Take for example the Pyramid of Khufu, the building material of its main part is locally produced limestone in Giza, and on the outside it is covered with beautiful white limestone produced in Tula. Now this layer of white limestone has all fallen off, and only in the lower part of the northern side the masonry has been preserved.
Granite stones are mainly used to build tombs inside the pyramids, and the larger ones weigh about 40-50 tons.
Royal tomb in the pyramid of Khufu
So, the question is, how are these granites cut?
First conclusion: when cutting granite, the tools used by ancient Egyptian craftsmen could be copper saws and an abrasive solution consisting of water, gypsum powder and crushed quartz sand.
The evidence for this conclusion is as follows: firstly, in the King's Room of Khufu's pyramid and on many monumental buildings of the same period, neat stripes were visible on the cuts of stones; in the funerary temple of Khufu, in the crevices of some in sections of basalt, archaeologists discovered the above-mentioned remains of an abrasive solution, dyed green with worn copper.
Nicely cut stones found in Khufu's mortuary temple
Having come to the above conclusions, archaeologists conducted experiments on its feasibility. They made a copper saw, went to a granite quarry in the Aswan region and experimented.
Facts have proven that using this method of cutting granite is feasible and not as difficult as everyone imagined.
After reading the article here, many may wonder: how are these granites transported and lifted?
Don't worry, I'll talk to you slowly in future articles.