INTRODUCTION
Man having the need to use stone as a
material for building, from the Neolithic years until today has developed
through the centuries many techniques for its excavation.
At first he used strong woods as bars, that helped detach the big plaques
of marble from the surface of the ground, which he used as covers for
graves.
In Ancient Greece, the public buildings were built with big stones, elaborated
with attention and accuracy. The monolithic columns support the huge weight
of these buildings. At the ancient quarries they had great knowledge and
ability at the technique of the excavation.
During Roman times, the evolution of the techniques is great. The construction
of huge surfaces, amphitheater, hippodromes and other big buildings, assures
us the constructors were really good at what they were doing. More often
they used brick as building material, because the quarries, although they
were a lot, they didn't manage to give as marble as needed. Buildings
with arches and domes are constructed. At the Byzantine times, marble
is being used more at the temples. Their first quarries are remnants of
paganism temples. All the good stones are being used form second use.
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