Selective Use of Stones in the Medieval Cathedral of Tarragona, Spain: Construction and Historical Reasons

Abstract

Stone selection is not a random choice for builders and architects. From the Stonehenge Bluestones to Frank Lloyd Wright's "desert rubble masonry" in Taliesin West or PeterZumthor's thermal bath in Vals, the stones selected form a key part of the building's message, providing special significance for those who are aware of the selection. A clear example of this significance is the Cathedral of Tarragona, Spain. This study details the stones used in the construction of the cathedral between the 12th and 14th centuries, combining Romanesque and Gothic styles. A petrologic description was conducted for all the stones and their physical properties were measured, including thermal expansion, compressive strength, open porosity, density, and hydric expansion. These findings lead to a discussion of the reasons why certain stones were chosen.

Replacement stones for Lede stone in Belgian historical monuments

“…Natural stone in historic monuments is an expression of the local terrain, cultural evolution and socio-economic history of a region (e.g. Devos et al 2010;Gomez-Heras et al 2010;Ventola et al 2012). Therefore, natural stone is an important part of the cultural heritage to which special attention is or should be paid during restoration works.…”