What distinguishes ashlar stone masonry from rubble stone masonry, and which requires higher workmanship?

• A. Ashlar uses irregular stones with rough joints; rubble uses uniform blocks; rubble requires higher workmanship.
• B. Ashlar uses uniform cut blocks with tight joints; rubble uses irregular stones; ashlar requires higher workmanship.
• C. Both use uniform blocks; workmanship is the same.
• D. Ashlar uses brick, rubble uses stone.

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is the level of stone shaping and joint precision. Ashlar masonry uses blocks that are uniformly cut with straight, dressed faces and tight, very even joints. Because each block must be squared and fitted so the wall looks smooth and straight, this style requires a high level of workmanship and careful craftsmanship.

Rubble masonry, on the other hand, uses irregular stones of various shapes and sizes laid with mortar, resulting in rougher faces and looser or uneven joints. It’s less demanding in terms of precise cutting and exact block dimensions, though skilled masons still need to fit stones reasonably well.

So, ashlar requires higher workmanship due to the precision in cutting and aligning blocks, while rubble is simpler in that respect. The other statements mix up the characteristics (irregular vs uniform stones, brick versus stone) and don’t match how these methods are actually executed.