The History of Stonemasonry
Back in around 10,000 BC, people began to use fire to create the likes of plaster, mortar, and quicklime. And soon swapped out caves to luxury homes made of stone, straw, and mud. This was the start of stone masonry.
Fast forward a thousand years or so and you will come to some of stone masonry‘s famous triumphs that include The great pyramids of Egypt and The Sphinx. All across the world, ancient civilizations started to use and develop stone masonry. The Greeks built temples, Central Americans made beautiful step pyramids. Persians create palaces, and Romans came up with their coliseum and other fabulous structures that still exist today.
Castles
Across Europe, stonemasons were busily building castles that would last for hundreds of years. The first great European cathedrals were built during the Norman period, which was around circa 1000 AD. The Gothic chic rage was created during the 12th and 13th centuries. At times where the timber-based construction was still in vogue, however, have you seen any of these still standing? No, the only buildings that still endures are made from stone, of course.
By the time the Medieval period rolled around, the stonemason hierarchy was fully evolved. Apprentices were often indentured to their masters and worked to pay off their training. Journeymen were obviously more skilled and got their name because they journeyed along with their masters to projects they needed to work on. Master masons were free men that had the highest rating of skill and experience.
Banker Marks
Stonemasons traditionally carve their own personal symbol onto their creations, this is what is known as a banker mark, and identifies it as the work of a specific stonemason. These marks are often passed down through each generation of stonemason within the family. So, you can imagine, this is an invaluable aid to historians that are studying works of stone masonry.
For details about the services or products that All Angles Masonry can offer you, and if you live or work in or around the Albuquerque, NM area, please do not hesitate to contact us at this number (505) 209-3665 today.