Stonemasonry has been around for many millennia and is one of the oldest trades. Although it is not one of the most popular trades in the modern world, it still has its purpose. Stonemasonry can be dated back more than 10,000 years and has been a prevalent industry in world history. One of the best examples of incredible stonemasonry throughout history to stand the test of time is, of course, the pyramids in Egypt and South America.
What Is Stonemasonry?
Stonemasonry is crafting pieces of stone or rock into accurate forms and shapes designed for building, construction, and decoration purposes. Stonemasonry began when ancient cultures discovered that you could manipulate and split certain rocks with stronger rocks. Following this discovery, it wasn’t long until they worked out how to split rocks surrounding iron deposits. What this meant for civilization was the creation of the first hammers and chisels, as well as swords and other tools and weapons. It also changed the way humans built houses.
What Does A Stonemason Do?
Stonemasons have many purposes, even in its current modern form. There are also many different types of stonemasons. From ancient stonemasons who carved beauty from stone in the cathedrals of Europe or the Great Wall of China to stonemasons who build feature walls around your swimming pool or garden, stonemasons turn stone into art.
Although their techniques may have changed throughout the ages, the practical methods remain the same. There many types of stonemasons, from those who work in quarries, splitting rock sheets to extract specific types of stone, to the stonemason who crafts tiles and statues, the trade is not limited.
Other types of stonemasons include sawyer masons, who use saws to cut stone to specific shapes and sizes; carver masons, who create carvings like figurines, animal shapes and decorative stone pieces; fixer stonemasons, who attach the stone to structures, like buildings or bridges, using epoxy or cement to affix them.
Why Use Stone for Plaques and Memorials?
One of the most common modern areas of the trade in Australia today is the crafting of memorials, plaques, and gravestones. Throughout any culture that has been around for thousands of years, there are stone plaques, memorials, statues, and gravestones that have outlasted many other materials. Many stone plaques made hundreds, or thousands of years ago still stand and are in almost the same condition as when they were created. Because of the robust natural construction of stone, the craft of stonemasonry still exists. It is still a very popular choice for anyone who wants to create a memorial piece that will stand the test of time.
When you look at monuments around the world like the Taj Mahal, the Great Pyramids, Stonehenge, The Great Wall of China, The Greek Parthenon and the Aqueduct of Segovia in Spain, they all have one thing in common. Stonemasons crafted these monuments, and they have survived for thousands of years.
Because stone is a natural element that will stand the test of time, even in the harshest of climates, it is an excellent choice for the construction of plaques and memorials that can share memories of our time for generations to come.
If you are looking for a stonemason company, look no further. Get in touch today to see how we can help to set your memories in stone.