Ancient EGYPTian Stone-Working Tools and Techniques. Predynastic EGYPTian stone vessels dating to 4000-3100 BC show clear rotary drill marks and lathe marks Hard stones like granite (6-7 Mohs) hardness) were worked using abrasives with quartz, sand and water EGYPTians used lapis lazuli, carnelian (hardness 6.5-7), and garnet (6.5-7.5) in jewelry by 4000 BC

EGYPTians worked granite (6-7 Mohs) using abrasives, sand & water. An 1883 EGYPTological study by A. Lucas and Flinders Petrie proved copper tube drills could drill through red granite using abrasives. Old Kingdom reliefs show weighted hand drills.

Key facts:

- Predynastic EGYPTian stone vessels dating to 4000-3100 BC show clear rotary drill marks and lathe marks

- Hard stones like granite (6-7 Mohs hardness) were worked using abrasives with quartz, sand and water

- EGYPTians used lapis lazuli, carnelian (hardness 6.5-7), and garnet (6.5-7.5) in jewelry by 4000 BC

- Penn Museum records indicate granite was drilled using jewelled tubular drills with emery cutting points set in the tube

- Pre-dynastic Nakada culture created stone mace heads, cosmetic palettes, and ivory carvings

Key Facts

  • Predynastic EGYPTian stone vessels dating to 4000-3100 BC show clear rotary drill marks and lathe marks
  • Hard stones like granite (6-7 Mohs) hardness) were worked using abrasives with quartz, sand and water
  • EGYPTians used lapis lazuli, carnelian (hardness 6.5-7), and garnet (6.5-7.5) in jewelry by 4000 BC
  • Quartz ranks 7 on Mohs) scale - harder than granite - and was likely used as drill bits
  • Pre-dynastic Nakada culture created stone mace heads, cosmetic palettes, and ivory carvings
  • 1983 experiment by two doctors proved bow drills with copper tubes and abrasives can drill through red granite
  • Weighted drills with stone flywheels maintained momentum for smoother rotation
  • Fifth dynasty tomb reliefs (2600-2500 BC) depict two workers using angled hand drills with weighted stones
  • Drill bits were made of flint, diorite, limestone, and copper tubes
  • Hieroglyph existed to represent stone drills among the 700 hieroglyphs of the Old Kingdom

Related site: EGYPT — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.

Source: Ancient Egyptian Stone Vases Made by Hand or Machine? by Curious Being