The Palatine Stonemason Museum (german: Pfälzische Steinhauermuseum''Pfälzische Steinhauermuseum Alsenz''
at www.steinhauermuseum.de. Retrieved 27 Jun 2019.) is housed in a listed, historical,

timber-framed Timber framing (german: Holzfachwerk) and "post-and-beam" construction are traditional methods of building with heavy timbers, creating structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden ...

house on the market place of the village of

Alsenz Alsenz () is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Alsenz has an area of 12.88 km2 and a population of 1,647 (as of December 31, 2020). Culture and sights In the centre of the village is the Re ...

in the German state of

Rhineland-Palatinate Rhineland-Palatinate ( , ; german: link=no, Rheinland-Pfalz ; lb, Rheinland-Pfalz ; pfl, Rhoilond-Palz) is a western state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the ...

. Exhibits and documents deal with the history of

stonemasonry Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, mo ...

associated with the use of

sandstone Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) ...

in the region, from quarrying to the different processing techniques. The equipment and tools of the stonecutter, the versatility of sandstone, the social history and life of stonecutters and their families, are the subject of the exhibition. A display of sandstone samples in the

lapidarium A lapidarium is a place where stone (Latin: ) monuments and fragments of archaeological interest are exhibited. They can include stone epigraphy, epigraphs; statues; architectural elements such as columns, cornices, and acroterions; bas reliefs ...

shows the variety of sandstone species found in Germany. There are fossils, sandstone exhibits from Roman times to the present day, technical film material, lectures and readings and the specialist library provides visitors with comprehensive information on the

stonemason Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, mo ...

's craft. A faithfully replicated planning and construction office gives an insight into the way of life in the 19th century. The museum also invites visitors to look at the structures of rock through a microscope and to actively work on sandstone rock using tools. The gallery regularly hosts temporary exhibitions, lectures and readings. The main topics are technology, tools and instruments, industry and industrial history, everyday culture, handicrafts and traditions, cultural anthropology and folklore, and modern and contemporary art.

References

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