Technology
The age of gothic architecture and the Notre Dame was an age of new, innovative technology and design. Hundreds of workers and builders dedicated their lives to the construction of this cathedral, and unfortunately many never saw its completion. This structure serves as a memorial to these workers whose names are not recorded but who worked for the glory of their God. The raw materials needed to complete the construction were readily available from local sources. The region surrounding Paris was rich in a variety of stone. The majority of material used in Notre Dame was taken from nearby quarries. Still, transporting stone was costly, even over a short distance. To economize weight, much of the cutting and rough preparation of the blocks was accomplished at the quarry sites. Final dressing of the stone elements was executed within the masons' lodge, adjourning the cathedral. As a result of the Notre Dame’s massive size and complexity many new tools and design aspects were initiated. The treadwheel crane was used in the construction of the Notre Dame to lift and lower materials from the various levels of the Cathedral. This tool was entirely powered by men. One man would lift or slowly lower particularly heavy objects from the cathedral by walking inside the crane. Another commonly used tool in the construction of the cathedral was the wheelbarrow; it was used to transport materials and tools to various workers around the site. The construction of the Notre Dame utilized many new architectural techniques. The ceiling was constructed out of ribs of stone, which were light in weight, with a slightly pointed shape. These carried the weight of the stone slabs that crafted the vault and channelled the weight down to a couple of thin columns which rested on one large column. Since the walls were now free from bearing the weight of the vaults, they were no