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The rock-cut temples of the Silsileh quarry near Aswan are cut directly into the rock

Ancient Egyptian quarriesOnce producing high-quality stone for the construction of decorative monuments such as sculptures and obelisks, these quarries are now recognized archaeological sites. Eighty percent of the ancient quarries are located in the Nile Valley; some of them have disappeared under the waters of Lake Nasser, and others have disappeared due to modern mining activities.

Some of these sites have been clearly identified and the chemical composition of their stones is well known, allowing the geographical origin of most monuments to be traced using petrographic techniques, including neutron activation analysis.

In June 2006, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) established a new department dedicated to the conservation of Egypt's ancient quarries and mines. The new department aims to work closely with the SCA regional offices and will conduct a special training program for antiquities inspectors to enable regional authorities to handle inventory, documentation, risk assessment and management of ancient quarries and mines.

This article details some of the most important ancient quarry sites in Egypt.