The Unfinished Obelisk

The unfinished obelisk is the largest known ancient obelisk and is located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt in Aswan [1]. It was studied in detail by Reginald Engelbach in 1922 [1]. The unfinished obelisk is nearly one-third larger than any ancient Egyptian obelisk ever erected [1]. If finished it would have measured around 41.75 metres and would have weighed nearly 1,090 tonnes [1]. The obelisk's creators began to carve it directly out of bedrock, but cracks appeared in the granite and the project was abandoned [1]. The bottom side of the obelisk is still attached to the bedrock [1]. The unfinished obelisk offers unusual insights into ancient Egyptian stone-working techniques, with marks from workers' tools still clearly visible as well as ochre-colored lines marking where they were working [1].