Do you realize that the majority of the beautiful wooden buildings we admire in the present are based on old woodworking methods? The Metropol Parasol in Seville, Spain is a huge, cloud-like umbrella installed over one of the plazas in Andalusia.
This is reputed to be the biggest wooden object on the planet. This impressive structure has been created using traditional craftsmanship and precise design, reaching up to a staggering 175 meters high. Viewing from ground level, this wooden structure appears to be a beautiful work of art, but from a high viewpoint, one can appreciate the enormous scale of it!
These amazing modern marvels were inspired by ancient techniques. The design does not only have a pleasing aesthetic quality, but it is also extremely stable and will stand the test of time for a prolonged period.
It is evidenced by this structure that wood is extremely adaptive. Wood has been utilized from the beginning of time, but it will still stand as a reliable and effective material for constructing any type of building.
Woodworking History
It is often said that if you want to understand the current circumstances and foresee potential outcomes for the future, you need to look back to history for guidance. Woodworking has a rich and colorful history. Gaining knowledge of this can assist in comprehending why the majority of old-time carpentry methods are still employed today.
It is reported that, from the days of yore up until the present, each and every culture across the globe has relied upon and utilized wood. This sturdy and durable material has been employed to construct both practical and attractive buildings and decorative items.
Amazing woodworking techniques found in all cultures
Ancient societies like the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, and Romans were known for their exemplary woodworking structures and designs. In numerous ancient civilizations, the art form of woodworking was harnessed and a myriad of different techniques and styles were developed.
Wood was employed as a primary weapon for taking down prey and protecting oneself. Wood was employed to craft instruments for the construction of various structures and ornamental objects. Wooden utensils gave prehistoric humans the capacity to construct solid and long-lasting dwellings in a variety of places.
As humankind honed their abilities in carpentry, they were able to fabricate more elaborate arms to bag wildlife for nourishment, clear areas to cultivate crops, and construct furniture for their dwelling.
He discovered new methods that enabled him to build bigger and sturdier ships for fishing and transportation. He was no longer restricted to one place; he could now wander and look more widely for sustenance.
Ancient Woodworking Techniques From the Bible
The Bible chronicles the tale of the first major edifice ever made of wood. The Book of Genesis tells the story of how God instructed Noah to build the wooden ark. Noah adhered to God’s instructions of constructing an ark from cypress wood that has been smeared with tar.
God had determined to annihilate humanity with a flood, but Noah and his family, together with pairs of every animal, were selected to be spared.
God gave Noah and his son explicit directions on how to make the ark. He warned Noah that the ark should have a size of 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits in height, which approximately corresponds to 450 feet in length, 75 feet in width, and 45 feet in height.
He instructed Noah to bring two of each kind of animal, so he had to construct diverse parts in the boat to house them. In conclusion, Noah and his sons managed to complete construction on the ark before the large natural disaster arrived and struck down all evil men.
Once the inundation was over, the ark settled on the mountain peaks of Ararat, located in present-day Turkey. How on earth did Noah and his sons build such a majestic ship?
It is apparent that they had extraordinary carpentry talents in order to finish this project punctually. However, this wasn’t the lone example of astonishing ancient construction means employed in a wooden structure.
During the time of the Old Testament, skilled carpenters were only available to the royal family. Solomon brought in craftspeople from Tyre, a Phoenician city, to make his temple. The Phoenicians were renowned for their craftsmanship and woodworking capabilities, particularly in the fabrication of furniture, which they often decorated with inlays.
As time passed, the Israelites became skilled at the art of woodworking. Isaiah records the carpenter and his tools, noting that the Israelites had become proficient in the art of carpentry during this period.
The Israelites became skilled in the production of wooden objects, so it was not long before they were one of the first to be exiled to Babylon after the Babylonians captured Jerusalem in 597 BC. The story of these happenings was told in the book of Jeremiah 24:1; 29:2.
What kind of wood was used to create structures and furniture in Biblical times? The Lebanese cedar was favored mainly due to its sturdy nature, its appealing aesthetic, and the pleasant aroma it gave off.
Cedar is also resistant to insects and rot which is why most cedar structures built during that time would still be alive today including Solomon’s Temple, boats, and furniture.
Jesus was the adopted son of Joseph, a carpenter. Woodworkers during this time passed on their skills and talents to their children and this is what Joseph did. He taught Jesus how to become a good carpenter at the young age of 12.
Currently, carpenters were not constructing houses or any other type of structure. Carpenters constructed sleds, plows, roofs, yokes, and doors. They crafted storage containers, cupboards, and other wooden components of a dwelling such as balconies and roofs.
The New Testament era had a high demand for various types of wood such as cypress, oak, olive, sycamore, ash, among others. If the woodwork was really remarkable, carpenters would bring in cedar from Lebanon. During this particular period, woodworkers depended on archaic versions of saws, plumblines, strings, chisels, mallets, adzes, rulers, squares, planes, and rulers for their tools.
Today’s woodworkers use different kinds of saws in order to craft elaborate designs out of wood. In Biblical times, the bow lathe was the preferred tool. This crude instrument enabled a woodworker to craft fancy spindles and bowls. A leather band was shifted repeatedly to rotate wood.
People assumed that with the help of simple instruments, carpenters who worked on the Bible managed to produce dovetails, mitered angles, and dowel-joined pieces. The woodworkers not only had the technical ability to take on the tasks that were required of them, but they also had the determination and dedication to effectively complete them.
The Somerset Levels
Archaeologists frequently need to draw on largely damaged evidence to try to comprehend how people in ancient times were able to assemble materials like wood for their houses, barns, fences, and other necessities. Historically, the most commonly and extensively utilized raw material has not been stored for comprehensive investigation, and even when remnants can be found, their condition may not be adequate for scientific analysis. In areas where wood has been preserved well, it is vital for archaeologists to mine useful information as it might be associated with other archaeological sites that have not been kept in such good condition. It is essential to keep in mind that the woods in specific regions, specifically those areas in which the woods have survived, may not be equivalent to those in areas in which survival is not as successful; thus extra caution needs to be taken when applying the results to other regions. Nevertheless, there are important reasons why archaeological sites and regions containing abundant preserved wood can be used in the construction of a general assessment of ancient woodlands and wood technology, so long as care is taken in utilizing the results. This article will be utilizing a space where conservation has been done very well in order to demonstrate the features and quality of proof that can make it through, and this will act as a manual for the types of timber utilized in the making of aged buildings.
The Somerset Levels provide an optimal environment for understanding prehistoric woodlands and woodworking techniques due to the conservation of the surrounding environment and culture. Thanks to the ongoing formation of peat over the last 5,000 years (4,500 BC-AD 500), numerous ancient edifices have been buried by the peat bogs, and because the terrain is very level and low-lying, sediments and clays have achieved in preserving many sites from natural deterioration (Coles and Coles 1986). The wetland of the Levels is advantageous because it stores in its peat not only pieces of wooden trackways, platforms, and other constructions including homes, but also a record of the trees that grew in and around the area. Examining the pollen in addition to visibly recognizing leaves, seeds, bark and charcoal fragments, as well as the wood of buildings, is a significant way to trace the way primary and secondary forests have been put to use, the advancement of woodland management methods, and the utilization of certain species for various purposes. By conducting research in the Levels, we now have the ability to make assumptions about the practices of ancient woodworking, such as the types of trees chosen, the process of cutting them down and splitting them, and the output of timber and roundwood required for construction projects coming from various woodlands.
There are 36 sites in the Levels that offer a good insight into which woodlands were utilized from around 4,000 BC to AD 500. From Orme and Coles (1985), it is possible to recognize 26 species of wood that were employed in the building process. The age, size, and condition of the different species can be measured, and other studies can indicate the nature of the woodworking tools used and the quality of woodworking. Primary forests that have never been altered by humans are evidenced by the pollen stored in the peat below the earliest landmarks. It is clear that there was an abundance of old and towering trees, including oak, ash, and lime, that were used around 4,000 BC in this vast wooded area. Around the year 3000 BCE, forests that had been carefully taken care of and contained pruned hazel trees were already established, and these were still existing nearly four thousand years later in 2000 AD. Around 1,500 BC, reforested areas were overused, yet the timber produced there was generally not as large or high-grade as that found in untouched woodlands. After circa 500 BC, oak woodlands were diminished and a wider range of trees was being used.
Different kinds and grades of wood have significant effects on the personality of old edifices, just as the evolution and use of variant instruments for working on wood do. The Levels have been studied for 25 years, and have revealed over 100,000 artifacts of Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age origins, including items made of both roundwood and timber. Additionally, evidence of the working, splitting, and felling of different types of wood have been observed throughout this time as well. In this paper, the archaeological proof for using various trees for initial woodworking will be examined, and the effects of such operations on the ‘wildwood’ will be looked at.
Finishing
It can be difficult to determine the amount of chopping required to make a flat surface after dividing a plank. A plank that has been divided to the desired thinness should be suitable for something like the construction of a track or house foundation. When it comes to using the split timber for walls, floors, frames, or any other form of fitting, it will need to be finished off. This would require cutting the plank in two along its sides, removing any fibres or blemishes, and forming a straight surface by judgement or by utilizing a basic line for guidance, with a careful hacking of the entire surfaces (Refer to Figure 7). In trials, this exploration of oak pieces has been conducted using a rock ax, a wide bronze ax, and an iron ax. It’s essential to bear in mind that the result of timber processing using iron and bronze axes is nearly the same, whereas stone axes leave a grimy finish with a lot of chipped off bits still attached; however, over a period of time due to outside elements and utilisation, all of these indications would fade away, leaving a glossy look that cannot be distinguished from that of the product of metal axes. The half-lap joints that were made with stone axes were equivalent to that produced with iron axes; what differed was the length of time needed to accomplish the task. Being well-versed in the use of the stone axe could reduce the difference in time spent to an inconsequential level. The end result of the study indicates that it is the individual using the tool, not the tool itself, that affects the quality of work, regardless of whether a stone or metal tool is utilized. Additionally, a stone tool can produce similar results compared to when using a metal tool, although the latter might be slightly more manageable.
