Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Malta, Prehistoric Antiquities of the Maltese Islands
). However it was during the
middle and the latter half of the 2nd millenium BC that this type of construc-
tion became a standard in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant, notably in
(Mycenaean) Greece, Anatolia, Syria and Palestine. Its principal utilisation was for
fortii cation walls, but this extended to Gate Houses; and the construction was also
prominent in the Mycenaean subterranean “tholos” tombs (for Greece v Lawrence
Chaps 6, 7; N. Claire Loader
, Building in Cyclopean Masonry,
pass
. For the Levant
v R. Naumann Architektur Kleinasiens
pass
; G.R.H. Wright, ABSP I, II
pass
).
To repeat, virtually nothing has been said about the methods used to build up
massive walls with these massive stones, sometimes of several tons burden. However
manifestly such burdens could not be manhandled about into position, and some
site developments and installations were required to assemble them. Perhaps the
general historical associations, together with some note of the circumstances in
various individual instances may suggest the broad lines of procedure involved.
Here it must be advertised that dif erences of composition among Cyclopean walls
are not considered here—the consideration only is with the mode of getting into
position the heavy units of such construction.
In the i rst place heavy blocks of stone were assembled at er the manner of
Cyclopean masonry in conjunction with some megalithic building. It seems obvi-
ous that such blocks were handled in the same way as the megalithic elements
themselves. h e methods of handling were the same but the form of the units and
the assemblage were dif erent. In this way heavy blocks of Cyclopean masonry
would have been dragged along the ground and up earth inclines into position
on the wall face. h is process was supplemented or substituted for where neces-
sary by use of baulks of timber as runners. Additionally where some sort of near
vertical displacement was demanded (e.g. working blocks up into position on the
wall face), this process was ef ected by levering. With these parameters in mind
it is interesting to rel ect how ot en individual instances of Cyclopean masonry
construction were associated with rising banks of earth. h is is obvious in the case
of the Mycenaean tholos tombs which were built within emplacements hollowed
out in the hillside.
Also in a surprising number of varied instances, if examined enquiringly, it will
be found that convenient higher ground was adjacent which could have facili-
tated the erection of Cyclopean blocks. Alternatively it appears that the masonry
construction proceeded in conjunction with building up the ground level
pari
passu
by i lls and embankments. Informative instances of this have been revealed
by excavation on tells in the Levant of fortii ed city gates. h e masonry of these
features is Cyclopean in nature, but at times more or less shaped by (hammer)
dressing. Here what has ot en been taken as free standing masonry was the mas-
sive foundation of the gatehouse designed to withstand sapping. h is consisted
of heavy masonry containing packed earth i lls, both the masonry and the earth
Pres-
ence of
adjacent
earth
banks
74-76
287-289
74-76
287-289
221
