Tale of Two Industries: machine-made vs handmade vessels. Two distinct vase industries existed: hard stone (machine-made) and alabaster (handmade) Hard stone vessels show consistent wall thickness within 1-2/1000 of an inch Alabaster vessels display inconsistent thickness, waves, and dips from handwork

Two distinct vase industries existed below the Step Pyramid: hard stone vessels of precise manufacture vs handcrafted alabaster with waves and dips

Key facts:

- Two distinct vase industries existed: hard stone (machine-made) and alabaster (handmade)

- Hard stone vessels show consistent wall thickness within 1-2/1000 of an inch

- Alabaster vessels display inconsistent thickness, waves, and dips from handwork

- Alabaster industry was created to replicate older hard stone vessels

- Handmade alabaster vessels lack tube drill marks in the center

Key Facts

  • Two distinct vase industries existed: hard stone (machine-made) and alabaster (handmade)
  • Hard stone vessels show consistent wall thickness within 1-2/1000 of an inch
  • Alabaster vessels display inconsistent thickness, waves, and dips from handwork
  • Alabaster industry was created by Imhotep to replicate older hard stone vessels
  • Handmade alabaster vessels lack tube drill marks in the center
  • Step Pyramid built by Djoser and Imhotep weighs 400,450,000 tons
  • Subterranean passages predate the Step Pyramid structure

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