Stone Workshop

Curriculum

 Theoretical session on the nature, properties, types, provenance           of Mosul limestone.
  • Theoretical presentation of local limestone, its properties, provenance and use, followed up with a field trip to local quarries and construction/conservation sites that are using local methods and materials.

 Theoretical session of the decay of Mosul limestone.
  • A review of the lexicon with special reference to the conditions in Mosul and the limestone in Mosul.
 International tools, carving and masonry methods, theory.
  • A presentation showing the types of tools used on different types of stone in different cultures and epochs and will be followed up with a close examination of the tools used locally on limestone, and practical session on tool use (hand tools and machine tools).

 Cleaning and consolidation of limestone structures.
  •  This builds on the training session pertaining to decay mechanisms but focuses more specifically on deposits and how they can be removed if required. It is necessary to develop an understanding of the substrates and how they behave and decay and how damaging or soiling deposits can be removed without compromising the conservation of the stone or plasters.
 Practical sessions on mixing plaster, construction with stone and         plaster:
  • walls and arches.


 Practical sessions on construction with stone and plaster:
  • vaults and domes.  
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Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation was conducted over six days, with each day dedicated to a specific stage of stone building. On the first day, trainees were evaluated on their understanding of the basics of stone building, such as measurements, dimensions, and planning. On the second day, trainees were evaluated on their ability to determine the dimensions of corners using the Pythagorean method. The third day focused on the trainees' ability to build mini stone rooms, including the three basic construction stages of Al-Tasrij, Al-Tashhit, and Al-Satam. On the fourth day, trainees were evaluated on their ability to build Al-Masatar, which serves as the base of the ceiling. The fifth and sixth days evaluated the trainees' ability to build the four stone walls above Al-Eaqd, with each day focusing on a different phase of the construction process.  

Trainer:               Ahmed Shaker Mahmoud