n the hieroglyphs was
done partly with copper and partly with flint scrapers (P.M. 27). The
most splendid masonry is that of the Great Pyramid of Cheops. The blocks
of granite for the roofing are 56 in number, of an average weight of 54
tons each. These were cut from the water-worn rocks at the Cataract--the
soundest source for large masses, as any incipient flaws are well
exposed by wear. The blocks were quarried by cleavage; a groove was run
along the line intended, and about 2 ft. apart holes about 4 in. wide
were jumped downward from it in the intended plane; this prevented a
skew fracture (P.T. 93). In shallower masses a groove was run, and then
holes, apparently for wedges, were sunk deeper in the course of it;
whether wetted wood was used for the expansive force is not known, but
it is probable, as no signs are visible of crushing the granite by hard
wedges. The facing of the cloven surfaces was done by hammer-dressing,
using rounded masses of quartzose hornstone, held in the hand without
any handle. In order to get a hold for moving the blocks without
bruising the edges, projecting lumps or bosses were left on the faces,
about 6 or 8 in. across and 1 or 2 in. thick. After the block was in
place the boss was struck off and the surface dressed and polished (P.T.
78, 82). In the pyramid of Cheops the blocks were all faced before
building; but the later granite temple of Chephren and the pyramid of
Mycerinus (Menkaura, Menkeure) show a system of building with an excess
of a few inches left rough on the outer surface, which was dressed away
when in position (P.T. 110, 132).

The flatness of faces of stone or rock (both granite and limestone) was
tested by placing a true-plane trial plate, smeared with red ochre,
against the dressed surface, as in modern engineering. The contact being
thus reddened showed where the face had to be further dressed away; and
this process was continued until the ochre touched points not more than
an inch apart all over the joint faces, many square feet in area. On
stones too large for facing-plates a diagonal draft was run, so as to
avoid any wind in the plane (P.T. 83).

The cutting of granite was not only by cleavage and hammer dressing, but
also by cutting with harder materials than quartz such as emery. Long
saws of copper were fed with emery powder, and used to saw out blocks
as much as 7-1/2 ft. long (P.T. Plate XIV.). In other cases the very deep
scores in the sides of the saw-cut