Lifting bosses or handling bosses are protrusions intentionally left on stones by masons to facilitate maneuvering the blocks with ropes and levers.[1][2]

They are an important feature of ancient and classical construction, and were often not cut away, despite having fulfilled their purpose. Sometimes this was the result of a cost-saving measure or a construction halt. Other times bosses were left as a stylistic element, and even if dressed back, a remnant of them was kept to make their existence obvious.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Arnold, Dieter (1991). "Bosses". Building in Egypt: Pharaonic Stone Masonry. pp. 132–141. ISBN 9780195113747.
  2. ^ Stocks, Denys A. (2003). Experiments in Egyptian archaeology - Stoneworking technology in Ancient Egypt. p. 193.
  3. ^ Devolder, Maud; Kreimerman, Igor (2020). Ashlar: Exploring the Materiality of Cut-Stone Masonry in the Eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age. p. 313. ISBN 9782875589644.

Further reading

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