Lifting bosses are visible on several of the blocks in the background. These irregularly sized blocks were evidently put in place before any detailed work on smoothing their surfaces was undertaken.
Guidelines are visible on the upper drum of the fragmentary column shaft to the left. These lines were carved for the laying-out for the fluting which was probably done in place since it would have been difficult to ensure that the flutes were vertical otherwise. Similar techniques for laying-out fluting can be seen on other columns at Aphrodisias, including those on the Sebasteion. A more complicated series of guidelines can be seen on the columns of the Temple of Vespasian at Rome.