Stone is one of the most frequently used building materials since ancient times, and this is because of its structural role and ornamental use. The exploitation of the stone begins "in quarry". The blocks were cut as close as possible to their final shape in order to lighten their weight and thus reduce the cost of their transport.
The tools of the stonemason show a strong continuity from the Roman period to the XXth century. Corners, picks and saws were used in the extraction. Once the block was squared, the compass, the ruler and the square were used to trace the contours of the cut. The finishing touches were then made with punches, chisels or gradines. All of these instruments leave characteristic imprints on the stone that guide the archaeologist in the identification of the tools.
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