Category Archives: Archaeology

Wadi Abu Subeira, Egypt: Palaeolithic rock art on the verge of destruction

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Per Storemyr

In 2007 one of the most important recent archaeological discoveries in Egypt were made in Wadi (Chor) Abu Subeira near Aswan: A team led by Adel Kelany of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) found a stunning assemblage of petroglyphs dating to the Late Palaeolithic era (c. 15-20.000 years ago). But now this truly unique testimony of mankind’s early art is on the verge of destruction due to modern mining. Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient Egypt, Archaeology, Heritage destruction, Rock art | Tagged Ancient Egypt, Aswan, Qurta, rock art, Wadi Abu Subeira | 8 Comments

For those who didn’t really get the Levallois technique

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Per Storemyr

I didn’t make this fine animation, it is the work of José-Manuel Benito Álvarez, check at Wikimedia Commons and at Wikipedia. But I did take the photo, before, I have to admit, I really got it. You see, I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient Egypt, Archaeology | Tagged Ancient Egypt, levallois, silicified sandstone | Leave a comment

Mickey Mouse in rock art at Gharb Aswan (Egypt): Was he fond of sound?

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Per Storemyr

Though Prehistoric rock art certainly had a meaning, its implications usually remain mysterious for us moderns. But sometimes the rock art conveys funny things to speculate on. What about big-eared Mickey Mouse at Gharb Aswan in Upper Egypt: Was he … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient Egypt, Archaeology, Rock art | Tagged Ancient Egypt, Gharb Aswan, rock art | Leave a comment

Nidarosdomens steinbrudd: Byggingen av Kristkirken (1070-1100)

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Per Storemyr

Denne historien er en liten del av min bok “Nidarosdomens grunnfjell” (2015). Les mer om boken her. Tenk deg at du for nesten 1000 år siden er engelsk byggmester og har fått i oppdrag å reise en av Norges aller … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Norway, Old quarries | Tagged Nidaros Cathedral, Nidarosdomen, Nidarosdomen artikkelserie, Norway, quarry, Trondheim | 6 Comments

With pickaxe into modern times II: Quarrying of Marés at the Balearic Islands

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Per Storemyr

As a follow-up of my two recent articles on traditional quarrying of sandstone and soapstone, here is an exciting film about manual extraction of Piedra de Marés at Menorca. Marés is a soft, yellowish biocalcarenite (calcareous sandstone), widely used since … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Old quarries | Tagged Menorca, Piedra de Mares, quarry | 4 Comments

With pickaxe into modern times: Quarrying of Bernese sandstone (CH)

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Per Storemyr

Even until the 1950s the quarrymen in Berne extracted their sandstone using pickaxes. They carved out trenches around the blocks to be removed, not unlike the way their colleagues did 5.000 years ago in ancient Egypt. Why so? Join me … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient Egypt, Archaeology, Old quarries, Switzerland | Tagged Bern, Berner Sandstein, Gurten, Krauchthal, Ostermundigen, quarry, sandstone, Switzerland | 11 Comments

“Steinriket Bømlo”: Nettsted om steinbrytning i 10.000 år

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Per Storemyr

Her forleden kom jeg over et særs interessant nettsted, nemlig “Steinriket Bømlo” som forteller historien om utnyttelsen av stein på denne ytterst steinrike øya – ytterst i havgapet på Vestlandet. Naturligvis står to av Norges flotteste steinalderlokaliteter i forgrunnen: Øksebruddet på Hespriholmen og pilespissbruddet på Siggjo. Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Norway, Old quarries | Tagged Bømlo, Hespriholmen, Norway, quarry | 1 Comment

International conference on millstone in Bergen – and the Hyllestad quarry landscape

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Per Storemyr

Last week the Norwegian “millstone community” invited to an international conference in Bergen – “Seen through a millstone: Geology and archaeology of quarries and mills”. It included an excursion to the Hyllestad quarries where the participants got to know a … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Norway, Old quarries | Tagged conservation, Cultural heritage, grinding stone, Kvernsteinsparken, millstone, Norway, quarry | 4 Comments

De gamle jerngruvene i Neskilen ved Arendal

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Per Storemyr

Neskilen var fra slutten av 1600-tallet et av de viktigste jerngruveområdene i Norge, stort i Norge og stort i “Arendalsfeltet”. Jerngruvedriften var svært viktig for Arendalsområdet og har vært med å prege den historiske utviklingen. Denne artikkelen gir en oversikt over et fortsatt velbevart gruvelandskap. Her var det drift i 200 år fra slutten av 1600-tallet – og her lekte vi som barn ved dype gruveåpninger… Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Norway, Old mines | Tagged Arendal, Cultural heritage, Neskilen, Norway, old mine | 5 Comments

Experimental archaeology: The traditional way of quarrying soapstone

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Per Storemyr

Experimental archaeology in old building stone quarries is a rare activity. But not so for Norwegian stone carver Eva Stavsøien. She asked herself how soapstone was extracted in the Middle Ages. Bringing handmade pickaxes, she went to an abandoned quarry … Continue reading →