Additionally , the infinitesimal but important spaces between the stones permit rain and wind to pass through , making walls resistant to the more destructive forces of nature .
Their construction features include the foundational “ two over one , one over two ” design method , the use of tie-stones which tie the faces of the wall together , “ hearting ” within the wall which keeps the wall from crumbling outward , and capstones which add additional weight and strength to the
top of the wall and which prevent debris from infiltrating the wall and weakening it over time . Hardly a pile of stones , the well laid dry-stack stone wall is a work of distinctive architectural mastery — a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle that , when built well , will last a couple of hundred years .
Apart from the magnitude of historical and cultural detail imbedded within these silent sentinels of the past , it may be the stone wall ’ s enduring character , scrawling its indelible signature
across our towns and landscape , that we find most evocative and meaningful ... holding local soil and local memory in place , equal parts art and nature , for today and ages hence .
Jennifer Don is a lawyer , equestrian and historic preservation enthusiast . She lives in the historic village of Unison , Virginia , where she enjoys restoring her old log home and walking or riding her horses through the countryside and down the beautiful stone wall lined dirt roads of Unison .
Many of Loudoun ’ s stone walls played an important role during the Civil War , where they served as both offensive and defensive protection shields by Union and Confederate troops .
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