THE UNFINISHED OBELISK

The unfinished obelisk is the largest known ancient obelisk, located in the northern region of the ancient quarries in Aswan (Assuan), Egypt. It is nearly one third (Thutmos obelisk in Lateran, Rome 105 ft) larger than any Egyptian obelisk ever erected. If finished it would measure around 41 m (which is 90 cubits), or 137 feet, in length (it was recently measured from base to tip, its exact length is 41.88 m). Its weight is estimated at around 1,150 metric tons. Scientists speculate that it was intended to complement the so-called Lateran Obelisk which was originally at Karnak and is now outside the Lateran Palace in Rome.

The obelisk's creators began to carve it directly out of bedrock, but cracks appeared in the granite and the project was abandoned. The bottom side of the obelisk is still attached to the bedrock. The unfinished obelisk offers unusual insights into ancient Egyptian stone-working techniques, with marks from workmen's tools still clearly visible.

Besides the unfinished obelisk, an unfinished partly worked obelisk base was discovered in 2005 at the quarries of Aswan.[1] Also discovered were some rock carvings and remains that may correspond to the site where most of the famous obelisks were worked. All these quarries in Aswan and the unfinished objects are an open-air museum and are officially protected by the Egyptian government as an archeological site.

The quarries of Aswan. The quarries are located along the Nile in the city of Aswan. There are a number of well-known sites: Shellal, the northern and southern quarries within an area of about 20 km² in the west bank and the islands of Elephantine and Seheil. One of the known directors of these Aswan sites was Hori during the times of Ramses III. In the present days, the quarry area is to become an open-air museum.

Typical minerals known from this site:
•Red, grey and black Granite

Some of the monuments known to come from this site are:
•Cleopatra's Needles
•The unfinished obelisk still on site, at the northern quarry.
•The unfinished partly-worked obelisk base, discovered in 2005
•The sarcophagus made from granite at the burial chambers of Djoser and Sneferu at Saqqara
•Many burial chambers, sarcophagus, columns etc. in the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure at Giza

More on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfinished_obelisk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_quarries_of_ancient_Egypt
Also check out: http://www.cheops-pyramide.ch/khufu-pyramid/stone-quarries.html