Abstract
Many scholars have researched the methods by which medieval vault panels might have been constructed. Differing proposals have been made by Viollet-le-Duc, Lassaux, Choisy and Fitchen. Among the methods proposed have been the cerce mobile method, the freehand or stone-weighted rope method, the planking method and the lagging units method. However, it remains unresolved as to which method was actually used. It is the hypothesis of this paper that the method employed was primarily the freehand method incorporating some features of the cerce mobile method. In support of this hypothesis. I have herein taken up the classification and description of the feasible methods of the laying of vault panel voussoirs.
