[PIF]

I don't know about the 500X statement, but they did use high speed drills and other machines. See "Lost Technologies of Ancient Egypt" by Christopher Dunn - a machinist and engineer. He goes into just what was necessary from a modern engineering perspective to carve and produce Karnak and many other granite statues, boxes, and odd objects with mysterious holes.

Note also the use of high speed drills by the people in the Denisovan cave, dated to 45,000-38,000 BC who made beautiful jewelry.

[GingisK]

People can drill holes in rock with slow speed drills. Even Jade is worked with hand tools.

[vpintheak]

Anyone ever see a bow drill, used to start fires, in operation? Ancient people were just as intelligent as we are. They would have done something very similar, except using something that would have cut holes at the end. It isn’t hard to understand that at all.