Uncovering the impossible- 6 of the Heaviest Ancient Stones Ever Made

Throughout history, humans have accomplished remarkable feats in architecture by quarrying, carving, and moving massive stones to construct impressive structures. Here are six examples of some of the heaviest ancient stones ever made:

1. **The Trilithon of Baalbek, Lebanon:**
- The Baalbek ruins in Lebanon feature an enormous platform made of three stones known as the Trilithon. The largest of these stones weighs approximately 800 tons. The exact methods used by ancient builders to move and lift such colossal stones remain a subject of debate among archaeologists and historians.

2. **The Stone of the Pregnant Woman, Baalbek, Lebanon:**
- Also located in Baalbek, the Stone of the Pregnant Woman is considered one of the largest monoliths ever quarried. Estimates suggest its weight to be around 1,000 tons. Like the Trilithon, the transportation and lifting techniques for these massive stones are not fully understood.

3. **The Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan, Egypt:**
- Found in the ancient quarries of Aswan, the Unfinished Obelisk is a massive granite block that was never completed. It is estimated to weigh around 1,200 tons. The ancient Egyptians used various tools, including copper chisels and dolerite pounding stones, to carve and shape such stones.

4. **The Thunder Stone, St. Petersburg, Russia:**
- The Thunder Stone is a massive granite block weighing approximately 1,500 tons. It was quarried in Finland and transported to St. Petersburg, Russia, in the 18th century. The transportation involved innovative methods, including the use of a specially designed sled and inclined planes.

5. **The Stone of the South, Egypt:**
- Also known as the Southern Colossus or the Colossus of Memnon, the Stone of the South is an unfinished ancient Egyptian granite obelisk located in the ancient quarries of Aswan. It is estimated to weigh around 1,200 tons. It is believed that the ancient Egyptians abandoned the obelisk due to cracks that appeared during its quarrying.

6. **The Colossi of Memnon, Egypt:**
- The Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, each weighing around 700 tons. These statues are made of quartzite and were originally part of a larger complex in Thebes. The transportation and erection of such colossal statues in ancient times are impressive engineering accomplishments.

The precise techniques used by ancient civilizations to quarry, carve, and move these massive stones are still subjects of research and speculation, and the sheer scale of these monuments continues to inspire awe and wonder.