Corbelled Vaulting

Definition

Corbelled vaulting is an architectural technique used in ancient structures where stones are stacked horizontally and slightly overlapping each other until they meet at the top, creating an arched ceiling or roof.

Analogy

Think of corbelled vaulting like building a sandcastle by stacking wet sand on top of each other until it forms an arch shape. Similarly, corbelled vaulting uses stone blocks instead of sand to create impressive architectural structures.

Related terms

Groin Vault: A groin vault is formed when two barrel vaults intersect at right angles. It creates a cross-shaped ceiling with four curved sections.

Ribbed Vaulting: Ribbed vaulting is an architectural technique that adds decorative ribs along the intersections of arches in a vaulted ceiling.

Gothic Architecture: Gothic architecture is known for its pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses. It heavily utilizes corbelled vaulting techniques.