Stone architecture rose suddenly in Egypt with the construction of the mortuary complex of King Djoser at Saqqara c.2700 BC. The reasons for its meteoric rise and its immediate development into superhuman dimensions are not known, but knowledge of the technical aspects of construction has advanced considerably in recent decades, drawing upon excavation reports as well as comparative studies of the construction methods of Pre-Classical, Greco-Roman, medieval and Inca architecture. Dr Arnold's book considers these advances in a systematic description of the planning and building of pharaonic stone masonry (the pyramids at Giza and Dashur, and the temples at Karnak and Luxor are examples), covering the production, quarrying, and transport of the stone and the tools used in building.
