“Fig. 5.7 A common ancient method of splitting stones was to make a series of small holes and then insert saturated wooden wedges which expanded and cracked the rock. Left: Machu Picchu quarry. Right: Aswan quarry”
Wouldnt one want to put dry wood in the holes and then add mositure?
Fascinating article.
One of the points in IIRC Von Daniken’s book, and it has been more than forty years since read...was that the economy required for a brute force old solution to just the manipulations and moving of the stones was far greater than those cultures had to devote to those projects.
DK
Good catch, I noticed that too. Yes I think you would want to swell after inserting. Similar to splitting with water, you fill the holes with water and let it freeze overnight a few times to split the rock.