it will be filled up with rock, rubble and sand.
parts of pR are very rocky and while digging the swales, several multi-sized rocks have been laid around for this very use - foundation laying.
but these rocks have to be broken into manageable chunks for ease of lifting as well as fitting into above dimensions.
enter kumar - rock cutter/mason (கல் தச்சன் - kal thachan). the mason has the added skill of using these rocks to construct walls, houses, etc.
a very skilled operation, and such an operator is usually found within a cluster of villages.
this is where the story starts.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85dYHCCrvNRthSbyGntJG3UYYNXYtdlWuORQpfGtj52hglg9yIDgKb0bPNSc57KwkCTG7YZfjl03_S5kEXZFqwCpiuoo-3w57XQbov9uGNxBPnDa6TEinZckWzq8HpyFidJ9BUA/s400/1+-+rocks.jpg)
tools of the trade - mini chisel wedges
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW9pFvKz9-mR_XbpNLXnMSJ52P7ijrhK3f9Mquvko1jEBmWwFSNjQv1Y4RCO4-XytUNSpKblwl7gQn1R4YsM_gDsUIfYWpsZqmI-AzldwPc_HKS1yz5WICN4C5du1vyLbsAzNmw/s400/2+-+tools.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXq_cdWMxG-Hh0L5cb7UX1Oc6TV8eZf0CBoOSTs195Wy-15lupCwyMk-JsVgSM6urdiW8uzhUyEtT1I4jvkOATTBqy8RH9ROSn6U2ZNWsvpnAVKBvAZ5rjAQAA-dovwfiCVn3uA/s400/3+-+chisels+wedges.jpg)
mega mallet
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSY1QVl-5shbOs4tUMqQflJ4NIe7ERfnOrsCIjZaE2OolWJqQjY7_P2yQZHjcVZDFOP1tQFolPKuMXXzUchmLX2yz9EvH0W-wFjbKDDbMQfZ3ip5TLVV_WvwUFPIFnJVoXZkpNFQ/s400/4+-+mallet.jpg)
hammering the wedges into place. he pays careful attention to the sound while knocking the rock to find out the weaker spots and the fault lines.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8Atjevj9MKrymRIKYdp54df66tJj-1sv0oYhNjNyDW5EwmEkE07FTmG2xGYpLMbwFSBYOWOvgvujFIFqYPI7rrMxYZ2Wwk1m8Yl5ewfGR1QGNLNAHRC5J6G2xjk0AU8frYXAYQ/s400/5+-+wedges+inserted.jpg)
heave ho. it is more brain than brawn...it takes strength to wield the mallet, but if he gets the placement correct, a couple of shots should do it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprJP8Oe_XFn1f7r_xgfkH3tR2IjJeKFbQ5mRCDcAc1aAHZsT70qDe2mtzjYR34ejr9r8c-VAQdjpIFEbY5J665474NdJJjcfJnXNibDmRMW4797M3doRGWpoR6Mx2yFPXbw_n4A/s400/6+-+wedges+hammered.jpg)
and lo, it cracks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qHP6jDEs0L7s-c1wsoYJO2Vdng4bSY-DCyL6iotNBUYfo2z0s_2yiaEtMlibZtOErTzZYkKFTrN7RnBLNGcKthkWsG8oVkv3gNQJ_ysORKf0WAa58NU0nRHNo9juIc0dDAmzOA/s400/7+-+crackline.jpg)
using a iron bar lever, the crack is wedged open.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhDaaKQuC5PJB1AjvBmXj7Qv6kSJOBYvrf14_KlUd0TboQEpvjIg3C1nYSdpP-IicM0hQmvUNCxO1Y5sRjEpdnU-ZYpFi0Q6c8DgaXI17E4oNQlXbAZ2JZV6tA9uRmc6qfeWY0A/s400/8+-+levering+out+1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_7ZDSY5psC5hun5AsBgIc-YSG_vx0voF-kmP58xRpuIU_DtFXHq6K0jPordgCYdRUDswNREfaEIHZSkvFpVoHCGRfTY-5Yu-yfkjccv19fPSFszGpPUvQcwBLm0TCeDvRvtoXw/s400/9+-+levering+out+2.jpg)
and the mighty are felled.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQNjBnvtowHZbmN7oVtp3G4zSolfSafBERUIvaTwQYZagiTQmcfBzdKS7pL25fYesUR47gcMZiVJy0DkAa83aDDhnv9iOjB2UtvruWe6BCR0aZ1mJ-OOFNDHCBT7lGVrRDE7x4w/s400/10+-+rock+drops.jpg)
end of the days harvest.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfZG8ztKypDQrILWp0uzcrXEjbSprAXZO8gwdBIIcVLMMFjo6FHt7jSTfhblXZnN5ykqwWr72z8DHf4rcw4YF0a8T2SVy_1jQZFv82jFbCsTRzyZene3HQ_5ol55rCf-2pybBhg/s400/11+-+final+day+output.jpg)
a total of 3 tractor tipper loads will be needed. around 3-4 person days of work.
and tons of rock.
now these need to be moved to the house location. and thats all us...