Dry stone work

Placing one stone on top of the next without cement or mortar to bind them together — that is how many structures have been built on this island. Such constructions were used for a number of things, and examples can be seen in the form of terraced, supporting stone walls known locally as marges, allowing slopes to be cultivated, and walls demarcating properties and fields. The technique was also used to construct a vast network of paths where it is still common to come across stone-paved sections.

The charcoal-maker rotlos still stand in woodland areas where they were used in charcoal production work. In these same areas you will also find typical lime kilns that were used to produce a material essential for construction work as well as cleanliness and hygiene.

Dry stone fountains, cocons, and ponds helped people survive on land with very limited water resources. In the higher parts of the island snow houses were built, the cases de neu. Snow was stored in these houses and used for both medical and gastronomic purposes.

Refuges, cabins and sheds were constructed for people, animals and tools, completing the process of adapting the habitat to human need.
The dry stone technique is still in use today and has left us with a unique heritage of great value for future constructions, showing an example of natural integration.

Since 1987 the Consell de Mallorca has been working on the recovering and conservation of the dry stone heritage. First, through the schools, workshops for margers (majorcan dry stone wallers), and later in the framework of various programs, in which collaboration with municipalities and participation in European projects has been very important.

A large number of roads have been recovered, including emblematic trails such as the old path to Lluc , the Camí del Barranc de Biniaraix, the Camí des Correu, Ses Voltes d'en Galileu and others.

In its surroundings, retaining walls and enclosure walls have been straightened, barracks and bunkers have been recovered and snow houses and snowfields have been restored. Altogether, a very representative sample of the ethnological heritage of Mallorca.

During the 80s the craft of marger was on the point of disappearing, mainly due to lack of demand and the old age of the dry stone masters. In 1986 a Dry Stone Walling School was founded in Sóller; its purpose was to restore the Barranc de Biniaraix walking path and to train specialists in the art of dry stone walling. Two years later the Consell de Mallorca took over management of the school and further extended its goals.

Since then the Consell has held several dry stone walling courses. Initially they were workshop school programs aimed at youth between sixteen and twenty-four years of age and unemployed. Later they acquired more of an occupational workshop character and are now aimed at unemployed people over twenty-five years of age. These programs have proven very successful, as theory and practice are combined with real work.

Nowadays courses for beginners are also organised for those without experience wishing to learn more about dry stone walling. The aim of these courses is to bring the technique closer to the local population and give them the basic knowledge needed to carry out less extensive maintenance work.

The marges (dry stone retaining walls in catalan) also have remarkable environmental implications when it comes to water regulation, hillside stabilisation and forest-fire prevention.

The structural technique of the walls, with abundant hearting added behind the main face of the wall, helps water drain from the terrace itself in times of moderate rain. It also reduces the surface run-off and the water erosion process. Many of these terraced fields make up complex systems that were built according to the characteristics of the specific hillsides where a large number of draining structures favour surface run-off control, improving on stability and helping to prevent landslips.
Further, the agricultural use of marjades creates areas with scarce vegetation and a marked horizontal discontinuity of combustible plants, especially during summer, which helps reduce the risk of fires and also stops fires from spreading. This latter aspect is particularly useful when it comes to establishing safety perimeters, above all in built-up areas.

Apart from increasing the risk of fires, the abandonment of agricultural practice means that the marges or retaining walls re no longer maintained and neither are the drainage structures, which means there is a greater risk for negative effects on the land during times of abundant rainfall.