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Posted: Apr 18, 2011

An Indelible Mark

Throughout history, masons have left their mark on the buildings they create… literally! Just as an artist signs his painting, masons have designed unique marks to leave on the stones they create as a type of signature for their contribution to the birth of a building. Even today we are aware of the names of many of the men who chipped away at the stones of such masterpieces as Chartres Cathedral and Edinburgh Castle because of the pictorial record of “masons marks” used during the Middle Ages. In an effort to make our castle more authentic, and to honor the work of those very first laborers at the Ozark Medieval Fortress, a once in a lifetime opportunity was offered to immortalize those workers who endured the extreme heat, long hours and unusual 13th century requests to be a part of this magnificent project. A large stone will soon be placed in the wall which has been marked by the workers at the end of year one. These marks, most being significant through their arrangement of initials or icons such as crosses or woven cloth, identify not only the masons but also the guides, ropemakers, gardeners, basketweaver, carpenters, smiths, goodwife, and potter. In this way, perhaps years from now when visitors to the castle look at these marks carved by each worker, they will get a glimpse of those people who saw the significance of building a 13th century castle in the early years of the 21st. That is an idea we can truly say is “carved in stone”.

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