I would like to understand in some detail stone cutting and quarrying techniques

[Jay_Waddoups@xxxxxxx]

Hello,

My name is Jay Waddoups and I've appreciated the knowledge
gained from all of you over the last couple of years.

I would like to understand in some detail stone cutting and
quarrying techniques from ancient times to the modern day.

It seems difficult to do the best work possible without a
significant connection to and knowledge of what has gone
before in this most ancient craft.

Does anyone know of a place where such a long term
educational project has been organized or attempted?

Or suggestions about how to begin and carry through such a
course of study? I'm looking for ways to direct my reading
and work more efficiently, so that in the end I will know
about a broad range of techniques and be able to skillfully
use a smaller subset that most interest me.   It is
important that the course include working with the stone
directly, otherwise the knowledge doesn't stay and there is
too little motivation to keep at it.

I don't have unlimited funds or time, so most of the effort
must be able to be done at home in off hours. But I take
some comfort in the thought that effort applied consistently
over time can create some of the most amazing and beautiful
things with such a common material as stone.

I'm primarily interested in public works and building stone,
although there have been wild attempts at a few other
"items" (definitely not up to the quality displayed by most
of you in this list).