Human world
Many kinds of stone were used for the dishes, bowls and jars found in large numbers of early graves. Egyptian alabaster was a favourite because of its translucency and beautiful markings.
The interiors were hollowed using a bow drill with a copper or stone bit and abrasive sand. The outsides were shaped with stone tools and polished. The skill of the stone-cutter is shown by the eggshell thinness of some vessels.