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Source Image: PR309_06_07 of Taşkesiği Quarries of Aphrodisias Quarries

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Description

Detail of a partially quarried block in Quarry 13 on the Taşkesiği hill, Aphrodisias.

Monument
Aphrodisias Quarries 
Monument Part
Taşkesiği Quarries 
Monument Type
Quarry 
Material(s)
Aphrodisian marble (Archaeometric identification)  
Date
circa bc 50 - circa ad 400 
Keywords
QuarryfaceRoughed-out ObjectWedge holes  
Collections
Aphrodisias  

Location

Original Location
Aphrodisias 

Evidence for working practices

1. Toolmarks

Process
Quarrying
Tool
Pick
Method
Angle: Steep (60-70°)
Force: Hard
Description
The parallel lines on the rock-face are the marks of the quarry pick. Here the geology slopes sharply and the quarrymen seem to have worked in one direction, which is why all these lines are aligned this way. In places where the quarrymen can work on a more level plane they tend to work in one direction for a short time then turn back and work in the other direction, which creates alternating bands of toolmarks facing different directions.

2. Toolmarks

Process
Hollowing-out
Tool
Point
Method
Angle: Vertical (90°)
Force: Hard
Description
Along the base of the block on the right a series of holes have been carved with the point chisel for the insertion of wedges. The quarrymen are exploiting the natural fissure in rock which runs behind this block so that they do not have to cut it away along that side.

3. Wedge holes

Process
Quarrying
Tool
Wedge
Description
The actual marks made by the wedges can be seen along the base of this block, as can the split in the rock caused by this work. Whatever led to this block being abandoned was obviously only revealed during this final stage of work.

Notes

This is a section of one of largest quarries of the more than seventy individual extraction points which constitute the so-called City Quarries at Aphrodisias, located roughly 2 km north of the city. White and grey marbles were quarried in this area.

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