Aswan
was the main supplier of granite for Egypt.
There are four main quarries
here, of which the most famous is the
Unfinished Obelisk Quarry. This site
has recently been cleared and new discoveries
made, and is well worth a visit.
The
site is dominated by the Unfinished Obelisk,
a colossal stone spire (42 meters
long) most likely begun during the reign
of Hatshepsut or Thutmose III and left
in its bed when it cracked during carving.
The quarry was used during both the Bronze
and Iron Ages, and the differences in stone
working between the two periods can be
seen on the surface of the bedrock.
Other
points of interest in this quarry include
a high rock face, left behind when
obelisks were removed, covered with ancient
graffiti, and an inscription dating from
the reign of Thutmose III, which describes
the quarrying of two obelisks for the Temple
of Amun at Karnak.
HOURS
OF OPERATION:
Daily, 9 AM - 5
PM
TICKET
COST:
Egyptian: 1 LE
Foreign: 25 LE
50%
reduction for bearers of International
Student ID Card
LOCATION:
The
northern quarries are about 1.5 km outside
of town, near
the Fatimid
Cemeteries.
DIRECTIONS:
BY
TAXI: From Aswan, ask for el masala en
naqsa.
FACILITIES:
There
is a nearby tourist bazaar.
The
site is not fully wheelchair accessible,
although
the graffiti and the obelisk
may be seen from the ground.
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