Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
h e master builder/controller of a signii cant megalithic project was a man of
varied talents (at er the model urged by Vitruvius). He needed an awareness of
astronomy exactly for the reasons stated by Vitruvius, as also a grounding in local
physical geography within the ambit of the supply of megalithic units of stone. In
the instance of Stonehenge the required geographical knowledge extended over the
whole of South Western England and Wales. h is was a vital concern for routing
the haulage tracks for the massive units of stone (which could be the most costly
item in the building programme). With this went a knowledge of geology,
sub
specie
lithology in order to recognise suitable building stone occuring in outcrops
where suitable slabs had been detached by weathering, or could be detached by a
minimum of ef ort. h en followed a capacity in surveying to ensure that gradients
of haulage ways were kept at a minimum, and that earth ramps up for setting slabs
were negotiable. A knowledge of forestry and joinery was required for construc-
tion of transport sleds (and dug out canoes). Finally the engineering know-how
to apply manpower correctly to hauling and levering.
It must be remembered that these varied competences were all exercised mentally
so far as is known. Neolithic society was illiterate and no grai ti etc. survive which
can be considered working drawings for megalithic construction. h e develop-
ment of a construction site with its appropriate installations as the province of a
master builder emerges with the Megalithic building tradition in Western Europe
during the 5th millenium BC. What relation may subsist between this and similar
manifestations at a later date elsewhere (e.g. in Old Kingdom Egypt) is at least a
matter for speculation.
Wide
knowledge
required
by master
builder
6.
Egyptian Large Block Building (Pharaonic Masonry)
h is system of construction, because of its ideosyncratic nature, has received con-
tinued investigation and explanation focussed on site development and installations.
h e consideration, however, has been accorded to it in isolation (apart, that is to
say, from a once current ideology that all monumental construction everywhere
was derived from the Pyramids). Since virtually nothing has been said about the
origins of Pharaonic Masonry construction, at least some reference to the mat-
ter must be made here. h e complete change in manner of stone building which
occured suddenly in Egypt between the 3rd and 4th Dynasty (i.e. in the middle of
the 3rd millenium BC) is one of the most striking (and unaccountable) develop-
ments in building history. A small block masonry style emerged with great élan at
the Pyramid Complex of Zoser (ca 2650 BC) as a conformable development out
of monumental mud brick building, and was constructed with the same processes
and installations. Within a century it was supplanted by building with the largest
Revolu-
tionary
change in
building
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