The reason it is better preserved is that granite is much much harder and resitant to errosion than limestone, which is what most of the rest of the plateau structures are built from.

This may also explain the different building technique used when building in Aswan rose granite that is seen at Khafre and the Osireon. The block also recalls the facade of Menkaure's pyramid which was half covered in granite, in that many at the Osireon are left crudely finished.

The amount of man-hours involved with building in cut granite, when all you have are percussion hand tools and copper blades is immense to say the least...

Dave Light.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/2008 10:26AM by Dave L.