Largest stone block from antiquity found at Baalbek, Lebanon

S.O.T.T: German archaeologists have discovered the largest stone ever carved by human hands, possibly dating to more than 2,000 years ago. Still partially buried, the monolith measures 19.6 meters (64 feet) in length, 6 meters (19.6 feet) wide, and is at least 5.5 meters (18 feet) high. Its weight is estimated at a bulky 1,650 tons, making it biggest stone block from antiquity.

It was found by a team from the German Archaeological Institute in a stone quarry at Baalbek in Lebanon. Known as Heliopolis, "the city of the sun," during the Roman rule, Baalbek housed one of the grandest sanctuaries in the empire.

The limestone quarry was located about a quarter of a mile from the temple complex and houses other two massive building blocks - one weighting about 1,240 tons, the other, known as the "Hajjar al-Hibla," or The Stone of the Pregnant Woman, about 1000 tons. Right next to the fully exposed Hajjar al-Hibla stone and underneath it, the archaeologists found a third block.

"The level of smoothness indicate the block was meant to be transported and used without being cut. Thus this is the biggest boulder known from antiquity," ...read more>>>...