Stonehenge features massive sarsen stones arranged in a post-and-lintel system. Which of the following architectural techniques was used to secure the horizontal lintels on top of the vertical upright posts?
- Mortise-and-tenon joints, where peg-like projections on the upright posts fit into matching hollows carved into the underside of the lintelsAnswer
- BIron clamps and molten lead, which were poured into pre-carved channels to secure adjacent stones
- CStratigraphic layering, where the stones were held together by packing deep layers of clay and earth between them
- DShamanistic binding rituals, where organic ropes and animal hides were wrapped around the joints to secure the stones
Answer
Mortise-and-tenon joints, where peg-like projections on the upright posts fit into matching hollows carved into the underside of the lintels
The builders of Stonehenge secured the horizontal lintels to the vertical uprights using mortise-and-tenon joints. In this system, peg-like protrusions (tenons) on the top of the upright posts fit into corresponding hollow sockets (mortises) carved into the underside of the lintel stones, stabilizing the post-and-lintel structure against movement.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Megalithic construction techniques and joint systems at Stonehenge.