Polygonal masonry

Polygonal masonry is a technique of stone wall construction. True polygonal masonry is a technique wherein the visible surfaces of the stones are dressed with straight sides or joints, giving the block the appearance of a polygon.^[1]

This technique is found throughout the world and sometimes corresponds to the less technical category of Cyclopean masonry.^[2]

Places

Albania

And others

Crimea

Easter Island

Ahu Vinapu

Ecuador

Ingapirca

Finland

Georgia

Greece

Hungary

India

Indonesia

Nias
Toraja

Iran

Si-o-se-pol

Italy

In Italy, polygonal masonry is particularly indicative of the region of Latium, but it occurs also in Etruria, Lucania, Samnium, and Umbria; scholars including Giuseppe Lugli have carried out studies of the technique.^[3]^[4] Some notable sites that have fortification walls built in this technique include Norba, Signia, Alatri, Boiano, Circeo, Cosa, Alba Fucens, Palestrina, and Terracina.^[5] The Porta Rosa of the ancient city of Velia employs a variant of the technique known as Lesbian masonry.^[1]

Japan

Latvia

Daugavpils

Malta

Mexico

Teotihuacan

Montenegro

Morocco

Lixus

Peru

Philippines

Portugal

Quinta da Regaleira

Romania

Russia

Spain

Sudan

Meroë

Sweden

Syria

Thailand

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Hili Archaeological Park

United Kingdom

United States

References

^ ^a ^b G.R.H. Wright (23 November 2009). Ancient Building Technology, Volume 3: Construction (2 Vols). BRILL. pp. 154–. ISBN 90-04-17745-0.
^ Carmelo G. Malacrino (2010). Constructing the Ancient World: Architectural Techniques of the Greeks and Romans. Getty Publications. pp. 97–. ISBN 978-1-60606-016-2.
^ Frank, T. 1924. "Roman buildings of the Republic: an attempt to date them from their materials." MAAR 3.
^ Giuseppe Lugli (1957). La Tecnica Edilizia Romana Con Particolare Riguardo a Roma E Lazio: Testo. 1. Johnson Reprint.
^ Jeffrey Alan Becker (2007). The Building Blocks of Empire: Civic Architecture, Central Italy, and the Roman Middle Republic. ProQuest. pp. 109–. ISBN 978-0-549-55847-7.

P. Gros. 1996. L'architecture romaine: du début du IIIe siècle av. J.-C. à la fin du Haut-Empire. 2 v. Paris: Picard.

[Wright2009-1] G.R.H. Wright (23 November 2009). Ancient Building Technology, Volume 3: Construction (2 Vols). BRILL. pp. 154–. ISBN 90-04-17745-0.

[Malacrino2010-2] Carmelo G. Malacrino (2010). Constructing the Ancient World: Architectural Techniques of the Greeks and Romans. Getty Publications. pp. 97–. ISBN 978-1-60606-016-2.

[3] Frank, T. 1924. "Roman buildings of the Republic: an attempt to date them from their materials." MAAR 3.

[Lugli1957-4] Giuseppe Lugli (1957). La Tecnica Edilizia Romana Con Particolare Riguardo a Roma E Lazio: Testo. 1. Johnson Reprint.

[Becker2007-5] Jeffrey Alan Becker (2007). The Building Blocks of Empire: Civic Architecture, Central Italy, and the Roman Middle Republic. ProQuest. pp. 109–. ISBN 978-0-549-55847-7.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

v t e Stonemasonry
Types	Ashlar Rustication Carving Dry stone Letter cutting Masonry Post-tensioned stone Massive precut stone Monumental Rubble Sculpture Slipform Snecked
Materials	Artificial stone Brick Cast stone Decorative stones Dimension stone Fieldstone Flagstone Gabion Granite Grout Lime mortar Limestone Marble Types Mortar Sandstone List Slate Stone veneer
Tools	Angle grinder Bush hammer Ceramic tile cutter Chisel Diamond blade Lewis (lifting appliance) Trowel Non-explosive demolition agents Plug and feather Stonemason's hammer Straightedge
Techniques	Flaming Flushwork Knapping Polygonal masonry Repointing Scabbling Tuckpointing Veneer Brickwork Wythe
Products	Castle Hardstone carving Headstone (Footstone) Mosaic Sculpture Stone wall Machicolation
Organizations	International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland Mason Contractors Association of America Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association Worshipful Company of Masons