What is a Keystone?

What is a keystone? You might think that all arches are made the same way. The fact is they are not all the same. Typical Roman arch with keystone. It is true that Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek and Assyrian civilizations used arches for underground structures such as drains and vaults. However, it was the Roman civilization (1000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.) that first began using a keystone (also called a capstone) in their arches. The keystone is the topmost stone in the arch. The one in the illustration on the right is exaggerated in size from what a normal keystone would be.

A keystone in the regulatory arch

Keystone Species - Sharks

Keystone Cows - DS Family Farm

Design for a Doorcase, Giuseppe Barberi, Italian, 1746–1809, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash on off-white laid paper, lined, Another variation of 1938-88-1693, with the emphasis on height. The overdoor

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Keystone species, facts and photos

Building The Arch: Google My Business Is The Keystone