A 900-year-old Irish tower stays standing by using gravity instead of mortar
Standing 28 meters tall atop a limestone outcrop, the Rock of Cashel's 12th-century round tower defies gravity using precise interlocking stones and a heavy capstone instead of traditional mortar.
The Rock of Cashel's round tower has survived 900 years of Atlantic gales reaching 100 mph by turning gravity into an architectural anchor. Built by Munster kings, the structure utilizes a technique called corbelling, where limestone blocks are stacked with such precision that their own weight creates stability.
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