If one is willing to consider animal fat, [please see GordonP's post of
13th February 2008ce at 09:20], a wet lubricant -- one would also want to consider chalk dust, a dry one

If one is willing to consider rollers, and vertical leverage, one may also want to consider what seems a natural combination of these -- the horizontal-axis, stationary, torque-multiplying draw-wheel ... It could, (if they approached the problem this way), have been no more complicated in principle than a substantial round tree-trunk laid across the track at the top of the escarpment, (or the top of one of its pitches), suitably cradled so that it could turn without moving ... It would, (i imagine), have been built up at its center, (which the workers would attempt to rotate by pulling on rope), so as to create a continuous mechanical advantage in their favor vis-a-vis that part, (off-center), from which ropes would run down to the stone ... If the center were to be built to a radius of 6 feet, and off-center the radius were to be 8 inches, they should enjoy 9:1 (minus friction at the cradle) ... This may (or may not) also help explain the entrenching of the ramp -- as it could have been felt to give the wheel firmer and smoother support than a scaffold of some kind

If the stones were flat on the bottom, there doesn't seem an urgent need for a sledge to transport them, but a rope hammock ... If on the other hand the stones had irregularities, they would want a layer of chalk dust at least as deep as the stone's 'relief' in order to keep it from catching on firmer material below ... At some point this layer may have been thrown from the trench, (to one side), by those who wished to use it for travel