There is nothing quite like hard rock mining to focus the attention on that greatest of all technological rhetorical statements: “There HAS to be an easier way of doing this!”
Everything from using reflectors to shine light in the hole when working, underground navigation, candle head lights, iron tools (after 300BC). And even slaves need protective gear or they will be injured too quickly.
Iron, wood, leather, slaves.
. I get winded cleaning out the post hole with the clam shell after the tractor has drilled the actual hole.
I always thought people had to commit murder and such to have to deal with that type of workload.