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Source Image: PR114_03_24 of Aliki Quarries of Thasos Quarries

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Description

Detail of working on a block in the Aliki Quarries on Thasos.

Monument
Thasos Quarries 
Monument Part
Aliki Quarries 
Monument Type
Quarry 
Material(s)
 
Date
bc 700 - ad 600 
Keywords
Roughed-out Object  
Collections
Thasos  

Location

Original Location
Aliki 

Evidence for working practices

1. Toolmarks

Process
Quarrying
Tool
Point
Method
Angle: Vertical (90°)
Force: Hard
Description
The rows of holes on this block are made by the point chisel. These holes were cut into the stone at irregular intervals and then pressure was applied at the corner of the block to split it from the rock-face or, in this case, split it into pieces. This is the so-called pointillé technique.

Notes

Numerous quarries were exploited on Thasos during the Roman period, most located on the coast where the material from them could be loaded easily onto waiting ships. Both dolomitic and calcitic white marble were quarried on the island from the Archaic to the Byzantine periods. The quarries at Aliki were important sources of calcitic white marble.

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