This article is about a structure built by humans. For a geological formation in Australia, see Stonewall. For other possible meanings, see Stonewall (disambiguation).
Stone walls are a kind of masonry construction that has been used for thousands of years. The first stone walls were constructed by farmers and primitive people by piling loose field stones into a dry stone wall. Later, mortar and plaster were used, especially in the construction of city walls, castles, and other fortifications before and during the Middle Ages. These stone walls are spread throughout the world in different forms. One of the best example is the Cyclopean Wall in Rajgir, India.[1]
Stone walls are usually made of local materials varying from limestone and flint to granite and sandstone. However, the quality of building stone varies greatly, both in its endurance to weathering, resistance to water penetration and in its ability to be worked into regular shapes before construction. Worked stone is usually known as ashlar, and is often used for corners in stone buildings. Granite is very resistant to weathering, while some limestones are very weak. Other limestones, such as Portland stone, are more weather-resistant.
Dimensionsedit
Large structures are typically constructed with thick walls, such as those found in castles and cathedrals, which can reach up to 12 feet in thickness. These walls generally consist of a layered stone exterior and rubble infill.
Examplesedit
The Great Wall of China, China. A grandiose 5,000 km long structure - 4,000 km across mountains, prairie and desert.
Hadrian's Wall, Great Britain. When in 117 AD the Picts who inhabited Scotland defeated the famous XI Spanish legion, Emperor Hadrian decided to fence off his malevolent neighbours. This is how Hadrian's Wall (122-126) and then Antoninus' Wall (142-144) were first erected. The dimensions of both structures are impressive - 120 and 63 km respectively. Built of peat and stone, they are not as well preserved as many other buildings of the era.
Aurelian's Wall, Rome, Italy.[2] With this wall, Emperor Aurelian wanted to protect the city from invading barbarians. He was in a great hurry and the monumental structure, 19 km in circumference, 8 m high and 3.4 m thick, was built in only 5 years (271-275).
Avila, Spain. The 12 m high and 3 m thick stone walls, 9 gates and 88 towers represent a well-preserved medieval fortress. It was built between the 11th and 14th centuries on the site of Arab and Roman fortifications.
Essaouira, Morocco. An 18th century international design: with the help of European engineers and architects, Sultan Mohammed III Ben Abdallah created a "beautifully designed fortress", which is how the name Es-Saouira translates.
Greater Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe. The ancient and largest sub-Saharan African city, it was built from the 11th to the 14th century and at its peak it was inhabited by some 18,000 people.
The ramparts of Old Quebec, Canada. Europeans established their first settlement here in 1535 - it was called "canada" (in the language of the natives, "village", "settlement"). The city of Quebec came later, in 1608, but today its fortress walls are the oldest in North America.[3]
Sacsayhuaman, Cusco, Peru. The ancient city of Cusco resembles a puma (the sacred animal of the ruling dynasty) in outline and the six-metre high fortress walls are its "teeth".
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, Cartagena, Colombia. One of Colombia's Seven Wonders, the 16th century fortress is known for its walls, thick at the base and tapering at the top.
See alsoedit
Dry-stone wall – Construction methodPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Defensive wall – Fortification used to protect an area from potential aggressors
Earth structure – Building or other structure made largely from soil
^"The Definitive Guide to the Quebec City Fortification Wall: The Historic Ramparts of Quebec City". justinpluslauren.com. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
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stone, wall, this, article, about, structure, built, humans, geological, formation, australia, stonewall, other, possible, meanings, stonewall, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, add. This article is about a structure built by humans For a geological formation in Australia see Stonewall For other possible meanings see Stonewall disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Stone wall news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2007 Learn how and when to remove this template message Stone walls are a kind of masonry construction that has been used for thousands of years The first stone walls were constructed by farmers and primitive people by piling loose field stones into a dry stone wall Later mortar and plaster were used especially in the construction of city walls castles and other fortifications before and during the Middle Ages These stone walls are spread throughout the world in different forms One of the best example is the Cyclopean Wall in Rajgir India 1 Stone wall IrelandCity wall in Worms GermanyLimestone wall at Royal Military College of CanadaDefensive stone wall and moat in Fortress of Akkerman in Bilhorod Dnistrovskyi UkraineStone wall of Kumamoto Castle Contents 1 Materials 2 Dimensions 3 Examples 4 See also 5 ReferencesMaterials editStone walls are usually made of local materials varying from limestone and flint to granite and sandstone However the quality of building stone varies greatly both in its endurance to weathering resistance to water penetration and in its ability to be worked into regular shapes before construction Worked stone is usually known as ashlar and is often used for corners in stone buildings Granite is very resistant to weathering while some limestones are very weak Other limestones such as Portland stone are more weather resistant Dimensions editLarge structures are typically constructed with thick walls such as those found in castles and cathedrals which can reach up to 12 feet in thickness These walls generally consist of a layered stone exterior and rubble infill Examples editThe Great Wall of China China A grandiose 5 000 km long structure 4 000 km across mountains prairie and desert Hadrian s Wall Great Britain When in 117 AD the Picts who inhabited Scotland defeated the famous XI Spanish legion Emperor Hadrian decided to fence off his malevolent neighbours This is how Hadrian s Wall 122 126 and then Antoninus Wall 142 144 were first erected The dimensions of both structures are impressive 120 and 63 km respectively Built of peat and stone they are not as well preserved as many other buildings of the era Aurelian s Wall Rome Italy 2 With this wall Emperor Aurelian wanted to protect the city from invading barbarians He was in a great hurry and the monumental structure 19 km in circumference 8 m high and 3 4 m thick was built in only 5 years 271 275 Avila Spain The 12 m high and 3 m thick stone walls 9 gates and 88 towers represent a well preserved medieval fortress It was built between the 11th and 14th centuries on the site of Arab and Roman fortifications Essaouira Morocco An 18th century international design with the help of European engineers and architects Sultan Mohammed III Ben Abdallah created a beautifully designed fortress which is how the name Es Saouira translates Greater Zimbabwe Zimbabwe The ancient and largest sub Saharan African city it was built from the 11th to the 14th century and at its peak it was inhabited by some 18 000 people The ramparts of Old Quebec Canada Europeans established their first settlement here in 1535 it was called canada in the language of the natives village settlement The city of Quebec came later in 1608 but today its fortress walls are the oldest in North America 3 Sacsayhuaman Cusco Peru The ancient city of Cusco resembles a puma the sacred animal of the ruling dynasty in outline and the six metre high fortress walls are its teeth Castillo San Felipe de Barajas Cartagena Colombia One of Colombia s Seven Wonders the 16th century fortress is known for its walls thick at the base and tapering at the top See also editDry stone wall Construction methodPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Defensive wall Fortification used to protect an area from potential aggressors Earth structure Building or other structure made largely from soil Fieldstone Building material NIST stone test wall Stonemasonry Creation of buildings structures and sculpture using stoneReferences edit The Cyclopean Wall Rajgir Travel News India 2017 03 07 Retrieved 2017 03 09 Aurelian Wall britannica com Retrieved 2022 10 10 The Definitive Guide to the Quebec City Fortification Wall The Historic Ramparts of Quebec City justinpluslauren com 13 April 2020 Retrieved 2022 10 10 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stone walls nbsp This garden related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This architectural element related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index 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