The term ashlar denotes both a certain kind of building stone and the masonry that makes use of such stones. There are several types of ashlar masonry, depending on the finish of the exposed face, the arrangement of individual stones, and the size of blocks. In general, ashlars are finely dressed stones cut precisely into a rectangular shape. In the ancient world, such blocks were often incredibly large and heavy. Ashlar blocks were typically laid in horizontal courses, or layers. Because of their straight and smooth edges, the stones fit together tightly, leaving only thin joints between them and […]
