Granite is a popular choice in kitchens and bathrooms because of its high durability and aesthetic qualities. It is stain and abrasion resistant and totally recyclable.
From as far back as the 26th century BC, granite has been used as a building material. The Read Pyramid of Egypt was constructed of limestone and granite blocks. The Great Pyramid of Giza contains a huge sarcophagus fashioned of Red Aswan Granite. In India, an entire temple was built out of granite in the 11th century AD.
Granite is a hard stone and requires skill to carve by hand. Before the invention of steam-powered cutting and dressing tools in the 18th century, granite could only be carved by hand tools. Modern methods of carving include using computer-controlled rotary bits and sandblasting over a rubber stencil.