Stone
material
Rock as a material for tools, millstones, walls and monuments.
Where it is used
- Hammer — is material for. The first hammer was a hammerstone, later mounted on a handle.
- Oven — is material for. The oven floor was laid with stone, which holds heat.
- Millstone — is material for. Millstones were hewn from hard stone.
- Adze — is material for. The blade of an adze was ground from stone.
- Well — is material for. The walls of wells were lined with stone.
- Foundation — is material for. Ancient foundations were laid of stone.
- Axe — is material for. A Neolithic axe is ground stone on a handle.
- Hoe — is material for. The working part was of stone or antler.
- Oil lamp — is material for. The first lamps were stone bowls (Lascaux).
- Potter’s wheel — is material for. Early potter’s wheels were stone discs on an axle.
- Paved road — is material for. Paved roads were laid with stone.
- Cistern — is material for. Cisterns were cut into rock or lined with stone.
- Cylinder seal — is material for. Seals were carved from stone.
- Balance scale — is material for. Weights were hewn from stone.
- Gutter — is material for. Ancient gutters were stone or ceramic channels.
- Dam — is material for. Sadd el-Kafara (~2700 BC) is an embankment of stone.
- Abacus — is material for. Counting was done with pebbles — the Latin calculus.
- Egyptian pyramid — is material for. The pyramids are built of limestone and granite blocks.
- Plumb bob — is material for. The bob of a plumb line is stone or copper.
- Column — is material for. Temple columns were hewn from stone.
- Seaport — is material for. Quays and moles were built of stone.
- Anchor — is material for. The oldest anchors were stones with a hole.
- Ice house — is material for. Ice houses were built of stone and sunk into the ground.
- Anvil — is material for. The first anvils were flat stones.
- Sundial — is material for. Sundials were hewn from stone.
- Water clock (clepsydra) — is material for. The clepsydra from Karnak is a stone vessel.
- Bridge — is material for. Ancient bridges were made of stone.
- Arch bridge — is material for. Arch bridges are built of dressed stone.
- Vault — is material for. Vaults were built of stone.
- Stadium — is material for. Ancient stadiums had stone stands.