Quarry

A place from which stones are taken for building purposes. It also refers to the process of cutting or removing stones. Archaeologists have found quarries dating back to Bible times. In one quarry, the limestone was relatively soft until it was exposed to air for a long time; then it became hard and durable. The workers made slits in the soft stone and then inserted wedges of wood. Then they poured water over the wedges. When the wood swelled, the rock split into pieces that could be moved. Scholars think this may have been the way that huge stones were prepared for Solomon’s temple.