@slowwalker,
This happens in my country also! In Anuradhapura kingdom they made wonderful stone Buddha statues! But when it comes to Nuwara kingdom they had no that technology to craft such wonderful statues! I don't know what's the secret behind it! But it happened the same way!
Anyway that craft man tried his best to take Buddha out of that stone! It's truly a great work! Nice photography and article!

Cheers~