Tag Archives: Switzerland

Quarrying of soft stone through history

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Per Storemyr

Quarrying of soft stone has been done with remarkably uniform methods over the last 5000 years. From Ancient Egypt to modern Norway – soft stone, like sandstone, limestone and soapstone, was nearly always taken from bedrock using chisels or picks. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Old quarries | Tagged quarry, Switzerland, Trondheim | Leave a comment

With pickaxe into modern times: Quarrying of Bernese sandstone (CH)

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Per Storemyr

Even until the 1950s the quarrymen in Berne extracted their sandstone using pickaxes. They carved out trenches around the blocks to be removed, not unlike the way their colleagues did 5.000 years ago in ancient Egypt. Why so? Join me … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient Egypt, Archaeology, Old quarries, Switzerland | Tagged Bern, Berner Sandstein, Gurten, Krauchthal, Ostermundigen, quarry, sandstone, Switzerland | 4 Comments

Standing at the edge of the abyss: The castle ruin at Cartatscha in Graubünden (Switzerland)

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Per Storemyr

Working as a conservation scientist I care for cultural heritage. My “problem” is that I’m also interested in the history of decay, including catastrophic events; just these phenomena that turn old masonry to rubble. But I’ve never seen it “live” … Continue reading →

Posted in Ruins, Switzerland, Weathering history | Tagged Cartatscha, Graubünden, historic photos, ruin, Surselva, Switzerland, weathering | Leave a comment

The Mauerzahn at Grünenfels castle ruin (CH) revisited after massive snowfall

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Per Storemyr

Ten days ago winter arrived in the Swiss Alps with massive snowfall. Subsequent temperature increase and intensive rainfall led to major floods, avalanches and destruction of infrastructure such as villages and roads. Such events sometimes also affect old buildings and … Continue reading →

Posted in Ruins, Switzerland, Weathering history | Tagged Graubünden, Grünenfels, ruin, Surselva, Switzerland, weathering | Leave a comment

A Mauerzahn at Grünenfels castle ruin (CH): Surviving 2011?

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Per Storemyr

Switzerland has a wealth of medieval castle ruins. In the Canton of Graübunden they are particularly numerous with, for example, the valley of Vorderrheintal (Surselva) displaying no less than about 50 ruins. Some are almost gone, others are kept in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ruins, Switzerland, Weathering history | Tagged Graubünden, Grünenfels, historic photos, ruin, Surselva, Switzerland, weathering | Leave a comment

Tüfels Chilen: Quarrying in the Church of the Devil

Posted on October 29, 2010 by Per Storemyr

Quarrying in the old days was often carried out at astonishing places, leaving very special formations – and legends – behind. The “Devil’s Church” or Tüfels Chilen in the Canton of Zurich is such a remarkable, combined work of nature … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Old quarries, Switzerland | Tagged quarry, Switzerland, Tüfel's Chilen, tufa | Leave a comment

Cooperation with CSC Conservation Science Consulting, Fribourg

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Per Storemyr

From 2008 to August 2010 I worked for CSC Conservation Science Consulting in Fribourg (CH), which is run by Christine Bläuer and Bénédicte Rousset. We undertook several exciting projects together, for example mapping the building stones – the Pierre jaune … Continue reading →