Development of late medieval stone-cut vaults: an invisible bridge between East and West

This project aims to explore potential connections between medieval stone-cut vaults in the Middle East and similar vaults that suddenly emerged in European regions such as the Valencian Kingdom, Northern Germany, and Southern Italy between the 15th and 16th centuries.

The research endeavours to enhance our understanding of the geometric analysis, design, and construction techniques employed in these highly intricate vaults.

While modern stone-cutting forms had yet to develop in Europe, a constructive and decorative technique that anticipated existing solutions in Western Christian culture had evolved in the Middle East.

In this context, the study will progress by examining examples found in Eastern countries such as Armenia, Turkey, Israel and Egypt, which clearly exhibit construction similarities with Europe.

Within this framework, the geometric analysis of five of the most complex vaults of the era will be conducted, and these vaults will be practically reconstructed. The existing knowledge has predominantly relied on sources and appears inconsistent in some aspects.

The innovative approach of this project involves formulating hypotheses about vault design, supported by data obtained directly from constructed objects - a method not commonly used until now.

In this context, by comparing the current interpretations of existing sources with the results of field and workshop studies, it will be possible to examine similar structures based on a scientific foundation, thus allowing for the establishment of new connections between Christian Western and Muslim Eastern can be established through the history of construction.

Furthermore, the research findings are expected to make a significant contribution to the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage.