Stone Mining is a technology in Age of Empires that can be researched at the Market. It allows stone miners to work 30% faster and carry +3 stone, and gives Slingers +1 attack and range.
Wood for building was scarce in most places where civilizations first arose. Vast forests just did not exist in these predominately arid regions. The principle building material for common uses was mud bricks, sun- dried at first and then fire- baked. In some areas important structures such as temples, palaces, tombs, and fortifications were built of stone when it was available. Much information about ancient Egypt was preserved because of the permanence of stone. Equivalent structures in Mesopotamia collapsed into mounds of earth after many centuries of neglect and weathering. Acquiring non- wood building materials through brick making or quarrying was the object of Stone Mining.
Babylonians: Stone Mining costs -30%.*
