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Stonemasonry
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<p>Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of <a href="/facts/Building/edSjKXje">buildings</a>, structures, and <a href="/facts/Sculpture/F01q8gtb">sculpture</a> using <a href="/facts/Rock_(geology)/FXCJkmop">stone</a> as the primary material. Stonemasonry is the craft of shaping and arranging stones, often together with <a href="/facts/Mortar_(masonry)/UsDMxYAh">mortar</a> and even the ancient <a href="/facts/Lime_mortar/LpSgBtvn">lime mortar</a>, to wall or cover formed structures. </p><p>The basic tools, methods and skills of the banker mason have existed as a trade for thousands of years. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient <a href="/facts/Shelter_(building)/t4VFFX1V">shelters</a>, <a href="/facts/Temple/5vGIswbs">temples</a>, <a href="/facts/Monument/p4Gs7ABC">monuments</a>, <a href="/facts/Artifact_(archaeology)/SftLTFf5">artifacts</a>, <a href="/facts/Fortification/pyH0FXhH">fortifications</a>, <a href="/facts/Road/3aadH4s3">roads</a>, <a href="/facts/Bridge/vBJ7Hw8v">bridges</a>, and entire <a href="/facts/City/2uNRFqAN">cities</a> were built of stone. Famous works of stonemasonry include <a href="/facts/G%25C3%25B6bekli_Tepe/ldhorY9o">Göbekli Tepe</a>, the <a href="/facts/Egyptian_pyramids/gad114LI">Egyptian pyramids</a>, the <a href="/facts/Taj_Mahal/fNCuLPX7">Taj Mahal</a>, <a href="/facts/Cusco/HqTv3bmJ">Cusco</a>'s Incan Wall, <a href="/facts/Taq-e_Bostan/L5uBqF8X">Taqwesan</a>, <a href="/facts/Easter_Island/JqNucnh7">Easter Island</a>'s <a href="/facts/Moai/X4WKeG8x">statues</a>, <a href="/facts/Angkor_Wat/bAU7gNIs">Angkor Wat</a>, <a href="/facts/Borobudur/bFIDmw2M">Borobudur</a>, <a href="/facts/Tihuanaco/MwfdzJK3">Tihuanaco</a>, <a href="/facts/Tenochtitlan/aGEKwuHS">Tenochtitlan</a>, <a href="/facts/Persepolis/TmMBrPhX">Persepolis</a>, the <a href="/facts/Parthenon/sp89Dxoa">Parthenon</a>, <a href="/facts/Stonehenge/5TDRUktP">Stonehenge</a>, the <a href="/facts/Great_Wall_of_China/aXVq4FrH">Great Wall of China</a>, the <a href="/facts/Mesoamerican_pyramids/S3fB7XX3">Mesoamerican pyramids</a>, <a href="/facts/Chartres_Cathedral/tEH6QN6u">Chartres Cathedral</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Stari_Most/V8ot3ezV">Stari Most</a>. </p><p>While stone was important traditionally, it fell out of use in the modern era, in favor of brick and steel-reinforced concrete. This is despite the advantages of stone over concrete. Those advantages include: </p> <ul><li>Many types of stone are stronger than concrete in compression.</li> <li>Stone uses much less energy to produce, and hence its production emits less carbon dioxide than either brick or concrete.</li> <li>Stone is widely considered aesthetically pleasing, while concrete is often painted or clad.</li></ul> <p>Modern stonemasonry is in the process of reinventing itself for automation, modern <a href="/facts/Massive_precut_stone/wCl4aXNh">load-bearing stone</a> construction, innovative <a href="/facts/Post-tensioned_stone/skPYq7JB">reinforcement techniques</a>, and integration with other sustainable materials, like <a href="/facts/Engineered_wood/IhFuQoac">engineered wood</a>. </p>