Posted on 02/09/2008 6:38:15 PM PST by blam
SCOTTISH MASONS' MYSTERIOUS SIGNATURES IN STONE TO BE RECORDED
By 24 Hour Museum Staff 08/02/2008
Courtesy Historic Scotland
Mysterious symbols carved into Scotland’s medieval churches, castles and bridges are to be studied and recorded in a new scheme supported by Historic Scotland.
Masons’ marks are enigmatic signatures cut into stone wherever they worked, and hold clues as to dates of construction as well as the craftsmen who worked on the structure. However, little is known about the identities and life stories of these men who played such an important role in creating the country’s most cherished buildings from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. The exact function of the marks is not even known.
These signatures of the master masons are now to be recorded for the regions of Aberdeenshire, Moray and Angus in a project that will produce a database including all the marks in the area, providing the possibility of following the movements of individuals from one project to the next.
“We are calling on local history and heritage societies to help us by searching for and recording our masons’ marks at medieval buildings across the area,” said Moira Greig, Aberdeenshire Council archaeologist. “We hope this project will help us to discover more about a group of people who we know a lot about, but about whom there are few written records.”
Historic Scotland are helping out by waiving the entry fee at a number of properties for groups taking part in the project – sites include Corgarff, Huntly, Edzell and Kildrummy castles, Spynie Palace and Arbroath Abbey.
Archaeological riddles might also be solved by the research.
Courtesy Historic Scotland
“Many medieval buildings are difficult to date,” said Peter Yeoman, historic Scotland senior archaeologist, “but masons’ marks can sometimes give valuable clues because the same ones may appear at a number of sites.”
“If we know when the building activity took place at one of them, then that can help a great deal with the undated ones.”
Evidence does need to be interpreted with care however, given that there may be more than one phase of building for each site, and it’s also possible that masons’ marks might have been passed from father to son.
The marks, whose function is not fully understood, could well have been used as a way of showing who did what work-wise so they could be paid.
If the project is a success, it is hoped it will be rolled out elsewhere in Scotland.
A successful survey has already been carried out at Lower Northwater Bridge between Angus and Aberdeenshire, north of Montrose. The A-listed structure, dated 1770-1777, was found to have 283 masons’ marks on one span and 362 on another, with analysis showing that they belonged to 16 different masons.
Anyone else here have their mark?
> No doubt, same thing with these mason marks they left on these buildings. Having an esoteric meaning known only to the “craft.”
Surely you jest!
Makes sense to me, too.
Saw the same thing in Germany.
Thank you, but my name’s not Shirley.
(I couldn’t resist...I’m weak to temptation.)
Interesting!
Thanx Blam.Interesting article.Vanity comment-plze indulge me:)My ancestors(paternal side)were stone masons who lived for many generations on The Isle of Man.Not much on the Isle:tiny island,few buildings,small population,mostly agriculture,and livestock-so i assume it was a base of operations.Late 1800’s(?)three brothers were recruited to work on Cornell U.Interesting note:as far as surnames are concerned(masons mark)my family name “morphed” depending on country of residence.Scottland,Ireland,England,France,etc...Cailly,MacCauley,Calloway,Cale,Cayley,Cole,Caulfield,Caley,Calley,etc...A very common practice-way back when.Anyone interested-free sites online-plug in your surname-you may be surprised at name origins,meanings,and variations.
It’s just about as much fun when tracking your DNA,
I will in time.
I'm a bit busy in the East right now. ;-)
My dear mother (bless her soul) used to sing ballards to me with this very tune. My sisters agree but none of us can remember any of the words she sang.
(Much Led Zepplin music was written on the Mull Of Kintyre at Robert Plant's family estate there)
I'm a little surprized that there's no mention here that Mason's marks are also found throughout many of the cathedrals in England [and France].
Tracking DNA-Plan on doing that-one of these days.
All Past Masters please rise! 1, . . .
Even more Led Zep was written by people not actually in the band. :’) What a Mull man sees he covets... Oh wait, wrong Mull...
I just read an amazing book written by a non-Mason which traces the craft to the Knights Templar.
The book is appropriatly named for the reasons that caused the Templars to go underground while they were being butchered and tortured.
No wonder they call the Masons a secret society!
The first symbol looks like the fish, IXT.., I,X(KH),T, (I)sus (CH)ristos, (T)heos, not an uncommon then or now.
Blam, that first symbol shown isn’t mysterious. I know what it signifies.
PM me if you want to know about it.
Gee, What would they make in the future when they find writtings that say KILROY WAS HERE!
The mark is just a mark, so they can stand by their work -— and, at the time, get paid.
It was passed down father-to-son, or at least master to apprentice — you get “families” of marks.
Most were overtly religious in origin, e.g., fish above, or a reference to a geometric theorum critical to the operative work performed (and, at the time, very secret stuff).
PING and fraternal greetings from South Africa (10 months, 15 days and counting...)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.