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The Plan of St. Gall

a study of the architecture & economy of & life in a paradigmatic Carolingian monastery
Horn, Walter William
  
THE PLAN OF ST. GALL
  
[section]
  
[title page]
  
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
  
[dedication]
  
[frontispiece]
  
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  
FOREWORD
 I. 
CONTENTS: VOLUME I
  
SYNOPSIS OF THE WORK
  
ABBREVIATIONS
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PREFACE
  
THE PLAN AND ITS BUILDINGS: A PRELIMINARY ORIENTATION
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INDEX TO BUILDING NUMBERS OF PLAN
  
VERZEICHNIS DER GEBÄUDENUMMERN IM PLAN
  
INDEX TO PLAN: VERZEICHNIS ZUM PLAN: INDEX DU PLAN
  
[section]

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I
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I. 1
  
INTRODUCTION
 I.1.1. 
I.1.1
 I.1.2. 
I.1.2
 I.1.3. 
I.1.3
 I.1.4. 
I.1.4
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I.1.5
  
THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE SCALE OF THE PLAN
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I.1.6
  
OTHER MORE GENERAL WORKS & NEW CRITICAL EDITIONS
 I.1.7. 
I.1.7
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I. 2
 I.2.1. 
I.2.1
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I. 3
 I.3.1. 
I.3.1
 I.3.2. 
I.3.2
 I.3.3. 
I.3.3
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I. 4
 I.4.1. 
I.4.1
 I.4.2. 
I.4.2
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I. 5
 I.5.1. 
I.5.1
 I.5.2. 
I.5.2
 I.5.3. 
I.5.3
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I. 6
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I.6.1
  
ABSENCE OF UNDERDRAWING
  
ABSENCE OF GUIDING CONSTRUCTION LINES IN THE ALIGNMENT OF BUILDINGS
  
ABSENCE OF GUIDING UNDERDRAWING IN THE INTERNAL LAYOUT OF INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS
  
ABSENCE OF CENTER POINTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CIRCLES
  
ANGULAR DISTORTIONS CAUSED BY A SHIFT IN THE RELATIVE POSITION OF ORIGINAL AND OVERLAY
  
INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN THE FLUID EXECUTION OF THE DRAWING AND THE PRECISE DRAFTSMANSHIP REQUIRED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORIGINAL SCHEME
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I. 7
 I.7.1. 
I.7.1
 I.7.2. 
I.7.2
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I.7.3
  
THE TRANSFER OF HOUSES FOR THE WORKMEN AND CRAFTSMEN FROM AN EXTRAMURAL TO AN INTRAMURAL LOCATION
  
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SEPARATE QUARTERS FOR VISITING MONKS
  
THE TRANSFER OF THE SCHOOL FOR LAYMEN AND SECULAR PRIESTS TO A LOCATION OUTSIDE THE CLAUSTRUM
 I.7.4. 
I.7.4
 I. 8. 
I. 8
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I. 9
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I.9.1
  
CONCEPTUAL AFFINITIES WITH COLOGNE CATHEDRAL
  
RELATIVE CHRONOLOGY
  
LIKELIHOOD OF HILDEBOLD'S INVOLVEMENT IN ORIGINAL SCHEME
  
AN ORNAMENTAL DETAIL SUGGESTING THE COURT SCHOOL AS THE CONCEPTUAL HOME OF THE PROTOTYPE PLAN
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I. 10
 I.10.1. 
I.10.1
 I.10.2. 
I.10.2
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I. 11
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I.11.1
  
REINHARDT, 1952
  
POESCHEL, 1957
  
REINLE, 1963-4
 I.11.2. 
I.11.2
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I. 12
 I.12.1. 
I.12.1
 I.12.2. 
I.12.2
 I.12.3. 
I.12.3
 I.12.4. 
I.12.4
 I.12.5. 
I.12.5
 I.12.6. 
I.12.6
 I.12.7. 
I.12.7
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I. 13
 I.13.1. 
I.13.1
 I.13.2. 
I.13.2
 I.13.3. 
I.13.3
 I.13.4. 
I.13.4
 I.13.5. 
I.13.5
 I.13.6. 
I.13.6
 I.13.7. 
I.13.7
 I.13.8. 
I.13.8
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I. 14
 I.14.1. 
I.14.1
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I.14.2
  
CONTRADICTORY TITLES NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL SCHEME
  
THE TITLES NOT THE DRAWING REFLECT THE INTENT OF THE ORIGINAL SCHEME
  
THE DRAWING NOT THE TITLES SHOULD BE TRUSTED
  
THE INCONSISTENCIES NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT BUT A CORRECTIVE MEASURE
  
CONFLICTING VIEWS ON SCALE OF THE PLAN
  
IMPROPER TEXTUAL EXEGESIS
  
ANACHRONISM IN MENSURATION
  
EARLY EXPRESSION OF THE VIEW THAT THE PLAN WAS DRAWN TO A CONSISTENT SCALE
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I.14.3
  
A WORD OF CAUTION
  
THE 2½-FOOT MODULE (STANDARD MODULE)
  
THE 40-FOOT MODULE (LARGE MODULE)
  
THE 160-FOOT MODULE (SUPER MODULE)
  
THE 1¼-FOOT MODULE (SUBMODULE)
 I.14.4. 
I.14.4
 I.14.5. 
I.14.5
 I.14.6. 
I.14.6
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I.14.7
  
THE CELLAR
  
SCRIPTORIUM & NORTHERN TRANSEPT ARM
  
THE MEDICINAL GARDEN
  
THE HOUSES FOR THE COWS AND THE FOALING MARES
 I.14.8. 
I.14.8
 I.14.9. 
I.14.9
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I. 15
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I.15.1
  
A UNION OF SCHEMATISM & REALISM
 I. 16. 
I. 16
 I. 17. 
I. 17
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II
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II. 1
  
INTRODUCTION
 II.1.1. 
II.1.1
 II.1.2. 
II.1.2
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II.1.3
  
CONNECTION WITH IRELAND?
  
CALL TOWERS OR FUNERARY LIGHT TOWERS?
  
BELL TOWERS OR TOWERS OF DEFENSE AND SURVEILLANCE?
  
THE EIGHT-LOBED ROSETTE: A STELLAR AND APOTROPAIC SYMBOL
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II.1.4
  
ALTAR OF ST. PETER
 II.1.5. 
II.1.5
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II.1.6
  
CHOIR OF ST. PETER
  
BAPTISMAL FONT AND ALTAR
  
ALTAR OF THE SAVIOR AT THE CROSS & THE PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR LAYMEN
  
AMBO
  
LECTERNS FOR READING
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II.1.7
  
THE CROSSING SQUARE AND ITS FURNISHINGS
  
SOUTHERN TRANSEPT ARM
  
NORTHERN TRANSEPT ARM
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II.1.8
  
HIGH ALTAR: ST. MARY AND ST. GALL
  
WALL BENCHES
  
TOMB OF ST. GALL AND ITS RELATION TO THE CRYPT
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II.1.9
  
ALTAR OF ST. PAUL
  
SYNTHRONON
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II.1.10
  
OUTER CRYPT
  
INNER CRYPT
 II.1.11. 
II.1.11
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II.1.12
  
LAYOUT
  
LOCATION
  
ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION
  
READING COLLECTION
  
MAIN LIBRARY
  
WRITING POSTURE AND VARIOUS CLASSES OF SCRIBES
  
METHOD OF CATALOGING AND SHELVING BOOKS
  
NUMBER OF SCRIBES & COLLABORATION
  
DAILY WORK SPAN
  
A NOBLE OR BACKBREAKING TASK?
 II.1.13. 
II.1.13
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II. 2
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II.2.1
  
MATERIAL AND WALL THICKNESS
  
ELEVATION
  
COLUMNS
  
CROSSING
  
CRYPT
  
WINDOWS
  
ROOF
  
ROOF COVERING
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II.2.2
  
GEORG DEHIO (1887) & JOSEPH HECHT (1924)
  
HANS REINHARDT (1937 and 1952)
  
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF DEHIO'S INTERPRETATION
  
WOLFGANG SCHÖNE (1960)
  
ADOLF REINLE (1963-64)
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II. 3
 II.3.1. 
II.3.1
 II.3.2. 
II.3.2
 II.3.3. 
II.3.3
 II.3.4. 
II.3.4
 II.3.5. 
II.3.5
 II.3.6. 
II.3.6
 II.3.7. 
II.3.7
 II.3.8. 
II.3.8
 II.3.9. 
II.3.9
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II.3.10
  
PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF THE GRID OF SQUARES
  
MEDITERRANEAN OR NORTHERN ROOTS: A DIVISION OF MINDS
  
INCREASING PROPENSITY FOR MODULAR SPACE DIVISION IN PRE-CAROLINGIAN AND CAROLINGIAN ARCHITECTURE NORTH OF THE ALPS
  
NEW LITURGICAL NEEDS CONTRIBUTING TO MODULAR SPACE DIVISION
  
MODULAR SPACE DIVISION: AN INTRINSIC FEATURE OF PREHISTORIC, PROTOHISTORIC, AND MEDIEVAL WOOD CONSTRUCTION
  
MODULAR AREA DIVISION: AN INTRINSIC FEATURE IN THE LAYOUT AND DESIGN OF ILLUMINATED PAGES IN HIBERNO-SAXON AND CAROLINGIAN MANUSCRIPTS
  
MODULAR AREA DIVISION: AN INTELLECTUAL PRINCIPLE AFFECTING THE CONCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION IN THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHURCH AND STATE
  
SETBACK AND RE-EMERGENCE
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III
collapse sectionIII. 1. 
III. 1
 III.1.1. 
(III.1.1)
 III.1.2. 
III.1.2
 III.1.3. 
III.1.3
collapse sectionIII.1.4. 
III.1.4
  
DIMENSIONS
  
THE PUZZLE OF THE SAVIN PLANT
  
THE GALLERIED PORCHES
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III.1.5
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Dormitory
  
HOW THE MONKS ARE TO SLEEP
  
LAYOUT OF THE BEDS
  
FEARS OF THE VIGILANT ABBOT
  
ABSENCE OF STAIRS
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Warming room
  
METHOD OF HEATING
  
PURPOSE
  
RECONSTRUCTION
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III.1.6
  
LAYOUT
  
A STRANGE VISIT AT NIGHT: ITS SANITARY, MORAL, AND ARCHITECTURAL IMPLICATIONS
  
TIMES SET FORMALLY ASIDE FOR THE USE OF THE PRIVY
collapse sectionIII.1.7. 
III.1.7
  
CONCEPT OF CLEANLINESS & DIRECTIVES CONCERNING THE USE OF BATHS
  
NUMBER, LOCATIONS & LAYOUT OF FACILITIES FOR BATHING & WASHING
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III.1.8
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Refectory
  
TABLES AND BENCHES
  
READER'S PULPIT
  
CUPBOARDS
  
LACK OF FACILITIES FOR HEATING
  
LAYOUT OF TABLES AND BENCHES IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
  
NUMBER AND HOURS OF MEALS OF THE MONKS
  
THE MONKS' DIET
  
MONKS' BEHAVIOR DURING THE MEAL
  
THE READER
  
THE SERVERS
  
WHO IS ADMITTED BESIDE THE MONKS
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Vestiary
  
WHAT CLOTHES THE MONKS ARE TO WEAR
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III.1.9
  
LAYOUT AND FURNISHINGS
  
DESIGN OF COOKING RANGE
  
ARCHITECTURAL SHELL
  
KITCHEN UTENSILS
  
RULES GOVERNING WORK IN THE KITCHEN
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III.1.30
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Cellar
  
LAYOUT, DESIGN, AND DIMENSIONS OF CASKS
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THE BARRELS IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
  
An invention of the Celts
  
Egyptian & Greco-Roman methods of storing wine
  
The barrel: constructional & viticultural advantages
  
The oldest extant barrel and the earliest visual representations
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THE MEASURE OF WINE AND BEER ALLOWED TO THE MONKS
  
Conflicting views among the early fathers
  
No difference in alcoholic content between ancient and modern wines
  
The hemina of St. Benedict: Charlemagne's attempts to establish its value
  
The Carolingian inflation of capacity measures
  
The probable daily allowance of wine at the time The Plan of St. Gall was drawn
  
ARE THE BARRELS DRAWN TO SCALE AND SCALED TO NEED?
  
CONCLUSION
  
LACK OF FACILITIES FOR THE PRESSING OF GRAPES
  
Larder
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III.1.11
  
ITS DUAL ROLE: CONVERSATION WITH VISITORS & WASHING OF FEET
  
MANDATUM FRATRUM AND MANDATUM HOSPITUM
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III. 2
 III.2.1. 
III.2.1
 III.2.2. 
III.2.2
collapse sectionIII.2.3. 
III.2.3
  
LAYOUT OF THE CLOISTER
  
NOVICES AND THEIR SUPERVISORS
  
DIET AND CLOTHING
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III.2.4
  
LAYOUT OF THE CLOISTER
  
CARE OF THE SICK: THEIR DIETARY PREROGATIVES
  
ADMISSION TO INFIRMARY
 III.2.5. 
III.2.5
collapse sectionIII.2.6. 
III.2.6
  
ITS CLASSICISM
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ROMAN IMPERIAL PROTOTYPES
  
Constantine's basilica at Trier
  
The porticus villa at Konz
  
Other porticus villas in the territory of the Salian Franks
  
Could they still be seen in Carolingian times?
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III.2.7
  
THREE SEPARATE CLOISTERS: AN ANSWER TO MONASTIC STRATIFICATION
  
AXIALITY OF CHURCHES: A PRINCIPLE INHERITED FROM EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE
  
GROUPING OF BUILDING MASSES: A TRANSFER TO SITE ORGANIZATION OF PRINCIPLES DEVELOPED IN BOOK ILLUMINATION
 III.2.8. 
III.2.8
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III. 3
 III.3.1. 
III.3.1
 III.3.2. 
III.3.2
 III.3.3. 
III.3.3
 III.3.4. 
III.3.4
 III.3.5. 
III.3.5
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IV
  
INTRODUCTION
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IV. 1
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IV.1.1
  
AUTHORITY AND OBLIGATION
  
ELECTIVITY OF OFFICE
  
MANORIAL POWER AND MILITARY OBLIGATIONS
 IV.1.2. 
IV.1.2
 IV.1.3. 
IV.1.3
 IV.1.4. 
IV.1.4
 IV.1.5. 
IV.1.5
 IV.1.6. 
IV.1.6
 IV.1.7. 
IV.1.7
 IV.1.8. 
IV.1.8
 IV.1.9. 
IV.1.9
 IV.1.10. 
IV.1.10
 IV.1.11. 
IV.1.11
 IV.1.12. 
IV.1.12
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IV. 2
 IV.2.1. 
IV.2.1
 IV.2.2. 
IV.2.2
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IV.2.3
  
OPUS DEI
  
LECTIO DIVINA
  
OPUS MANUUM
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IV. 3
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IV.3.1
  
FAMILIA INTUS
  
FAMILIA FORIS
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IV. 4
 IV.4.1. 
IV.4.1
 IV.4.2. 
IV.4.2
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IV. 5
 IV.5.1. 
IV.5.1
collapse sectionIV. 6. 
IV. 6
collapse sectionIV.6.1. 
IV.6.1
  
RESPONSIBLE MONASTIC OFFICIALS
  
MANAGEMENT BY MONKS OR BY LAYMEN?
  
SIZE
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IV. 7
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IV.7.1
  
IMPROVEMENT OF TREES BY GRAFTING
  
IMPROVED METHODS IN MANAGEMENT: BREEDING OF LIVESTOCK
  
NEW STANDARDS IN MANAGERIAL PRACTICE AND THEORY
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IV.7.2
  
NEW OR UNUSUAL HEATING DEVICES
  
SYSTEMATIC USE OF WATER POWER
 IV.7.3. 
IV.7.3
 IV.7.4. 
IV.7.4
 IV.7.5. 
IV.7.5
 IV.7.6. 
IV.7.6
 IV.7.7. 
IV.7.7

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I. 8

PRESUMABLE DATE OF THE PLAN

Since the Plan is dedicated to Abbot Gozbert of St. Gall,
its execution must fall into the time between Gozbert's
appointment to his abbacy in 816 and his resignation in
836 (he died in 837). As it was made to guide Gozbert in
the reconstruction of the monastery of St. Gall, the upper
limit of this span may safely be depressed to the year 830,
when this project was started. The prototype from which
the Plan of St. Gall was copied appears to date from the
year 817. We do not know at what point in his career
Abbot Gozbert conceived of the idea of rebuilding his
monastery; nor do we have any means of judging by how
many years his request for guidance in this project preceded
actual construction. Bishop Haito, the presumptive
"author" of the Plan, died in 836. From the tenor of his
transmittal note one is tempted to infer that the Plan was
drawn when Haito was still at the full height of his two
careers, i.e., before his retirement, in 823, from his episcopate
at Basel and his abbacy at the monastery of Reichenau.
The traditional date for the Plan, of "around 820," might
therefore be retained, provided that it be understood that
this is clearly not a compelling conclusion.

[ILLUSTRATION]

STYLUS

MUSEE D'HISTOIRE ET D'ART, LUXEMBOURG

The stylus, essentially a very simple tool of iron, bronze,
sometimes of hardwood, bone or ivory, has one or both
ends pointed according to the purpose for which the
instrument was used.

The example illustrated, Gallo-Roman, with one end
pointed, the other formed like a small, blunt chisel, was
probably for a professional writer. The pointed end,
needle sharp, was for pricking through the parchment, the
blunt end for scoring the parchment surface as a guide for
writing or ruling.
26

Page 26
[ILLUSTRATION]

14. COLOGNE, CAROLINGIAN CATHEDRAL. PLAN OF HILDEBOLD'S FOUNDATIONS

[after Willy Weyres, 1966, 408, fig. 10]

Excavations by Otto Doppelfeld beneath the pavement of the Gothic cathedral (heavily bombed in World War II) revealed seven building
horizons ranging from the Roman occupation (per. I-IV) through the Merovingian (per. V-VI), to the time of construction of the Carolingian
cathedral (per. VIIA-B). The plan displays in dark shading the foundations of Hildebold's church, begun probably after the coronation of
Charlemagne in 800, but still not complete when Hildebold died in 819. The stippled areas in the church are remains of the floor of the
Merovingian cathedral, a structure about 49 m long and 20-22 m wide; its precise shape can no longer be determined.

Toward the end of Merovingian or in early Carolingian times (possibly after the elevation of Hildebold to the See of Cologne in 787) the
Merovingian cathedral was enlarged westward with the addition of transept and semicircular atrium.
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