Q&A
Why did the practice of laying foundation stones start?
O Adamberry, Gibraltar
Foundation stones, or cornerstones, were the first stone placed at the base of a new structure being built and were used to determine its subsequent alignment and orientation. Positioning this stone to commence the construction of a grand building still takes place today, often celebrated by public ceremony, but derives from an ancient concept. Jesus Christ is metaphorically dubbed a “rejected” cornerstone of the Jewish faith in the New Testament (Mark 12:10).
Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures had commemorated the laying of initial building stones with
