Lifting boss

Lifting bosses or handling bosses are protrusions intentionally left on stones by masons to facilitate maneuvering the blocks with ropes and levers.

They are an important feature of ancient and classical construction, and were often not cut away, despite having fulfilled their purpose. Sometimes this was the result of a cost-saving measure or a construction halt. Other times bosses were left as a stylistic element, and even if dressed back, a remnant of them was kept to make their existence obvious.