“Carving stone into sculpture is an activity older than civilization itself.”

Stone carving is an activity where pieces of rough natural stone are shaped by the controlled removal of stone. Owing to the permanence of the material, stonework has survived which was created during our prehistory or past time.

Work carried out by paleolithic societies to create stone tools is more often referred to as knapping. Stone carving that is done to produce lettering is more often referred to as lettering. The process of removing stone from the earth is called mining or quarrying.

Stone carving is one of the processes which may be used by an artist when creating a sculpture. The term also refers to the activity of masons in dressing stone blocks for use in architecture, building or civil engineering. It is also a phrase used by archaeologists, historians, and anthropologists to describe the activity involved in making some types of petroglyphs.

Oamaru stone (geological name totara limestone) was formed 35 –40 million years ago. Formed from vast numbers of sand sized micro fossils which lay as a limey sediment on the sea floor. Over time the sediment became lithifed (hardened into stone) and eventually lifted above sea level to its present position, Oamaru, North Otago in New Zealand. Oamaru stone has a fine, even consistency which makes it a popular choice for sculptors and building.