| Abstract: | In 1981 an important discovery was made in the axial chapel of the thirteenth century cathedral of St. Just in Narbonne. During the removal of an eighteenth century masonry altar, original drawings were discovered etched into the original paving stones of the floor (figure 1).(1) These drawings are important because they can be fairly accurately dated and the individual tracings can be directly attached to specific details of the building. The drawings have ramifications not only for construction methods at Narbonne, but also for the study of medieval architecture as a whole. Of the information available concerning the practices of medieval masons, very little dates earlier than the fourteenth century. Therefore the discovery and analysis of the tracing floor at Narbonne will provide great insight into the construction practices of that time. |
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