I've been enjoying reading Underworld and related titles recently. In considering the origin and purpose of the Maltese cart ruts, it seems most interpret these as just that, cart ruts, or some sort of rail system.

I think that's a natural assumption based on their appearance. But Hancock points out in Underworld that these ruts were carved, not worn, into the stone.

So my question is, and maybe this has been published elsewhere, but has anyone within mainstream archeology given consideration to the idea that these ruts may be quarry marks? In other words, scars left in the bedrock from the act of quarrying stone to be used in monument construction?

Just a thought.