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A datestone is typically an embedded stone with the date of engraving and other information carved into it. They are not considered a very reliable source for dating a house, as instances of old houses being destroyed and rebuilt (with the old date stones intact) have been reported, or may in some cases be the date of a renovation or alteration.
Specific locations have often been chosen for datestones, viz.
*
Scotland's Marriage and Date Stones
Archaeological artefact types Dating methodologies in archaeology
A datestone is typically an embedded stone with the date of engraving and other information carved into it. They are not considered a very reliable source for dating a house, as instances of old houses being destroyed and rebuilt (with the old date stones intact) have been reported, or may in some cases be the date of a renovation or alteration.
Specific locations have often been chosen for datestones, viz.
*corbel
In architecture, a corbel is a structural piece of stone, wood or metal keyed into and projecting from a wall to carry a wikt:superincumbent, bearing weight, a type of bracket (architecture), bracket. A corbel is a solid piece of material in t ...
*gable stone
Gable stones () are carved and often colourfully painted stone tablets, which are set into the walls of buildings, usually at about 4 metres from the ground. They serve both to identify and embellish the building. They are also called "stone tabl ...
*Gatepost
A gatepost is a structure used to support gates or crossbars which control entry to an area, such as a field or driveway.
Purpose
If the gatepost is utilitarian in purpose then gateposts will be made as strictly functional structures; however ...
: a large upright piece of (usually) granite, usually set at the entrance to a driveway or a field.
* keystone
*lintel
A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented/structural item. In the case ...
See also
*Marriage stone
A marriage stone, nuptial stone or lintel stone is usually a stone, rarely wood, lintel (architecture), lintel carved with the initials, coat of arms, etc. of a newly married couple, usually displaying the date of the marriage. They were very popul ...
*Cornerstone
A cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry Foundation (engineering), foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entir ...
References
{{ReflistExternal links
Scotland's Marriage and Date Stones
Archaeological artefact types Dating methodologies in archaeology