Dry stone causeways
Practical Action
First, it is inexpensive. The only cost is for some sections of drainpipe and possibly the hire
of a tractor and trailer, small lorry or other means of transport for a few days. Often these
items can be obtained from a local NGO or other community organisation. All the material in
other words the stone is free and removing many tonnes for the causeway can make the
surrounding land much easier to cultivate.
Secondly, although some skill is required and an understanding of the principles and how to
build it is necessary, it is something that can be quickly learned. Indeed, careful reading of
this article should enable anybody to organise the building of a causeway.
Thirdly, causeways can be built very quickly. Providing enough of the community take part,
most causeways take only four or five days to build.
Equipment
Safety
The tools required are both simple
Injuries are rare when working with dry stone
and inexpensive. Most, if not all, will
techniques, but there are one or two things that
already be owned by members of the
should be borne in mind when building a causeway.
community, or could possibly be
Some of the stones will be very heavy, and these
borrowed. The following is a guide to
boulders should be handled with care and common
the total equipment likely to be
sense. Do not try to lift a heavy stone unaided – get
required - not what each person
help. Make sure fingers are not trapped, and heavy
needs.
stones are not accidentally rolled or dropped onto
the feet. During the filling process, when stones are
For measuring and marking, there
should be enough strong string to
make up two lengths that are as wide
as the causeway, for example if the
causeway is 18 metres wide, then you
will need two 18-metre lengths. You
will need four short 'pegs' to drive into
the ground to tether the strings. Metal
pegs can be hammered into the
ground safely without breaking, but
thrown or dropped to the centre for packing, there is
a tendency for some to bounce up. Make sure no
one is in the way. Also take care when breaking or
shaping stones with hammers, for small pieces can
fly off at high speed and bruise or cut somebody.
The eyes must be protected against these chips –
blink or turn the head away at the moment the
hammer strikes the stone, and wear eye protection if
possible.
wood will do if metal cannot be
obtained. A spirit level is necessary to ensure that the finish is level, although if this really
cannot be obtained, another method for levelling is described later. A tape measure at least
seven metres long is useful, but not essential.
For digging earth (which is required at the end) and moving earth and stone, there should be
three or four pickaxes and a similar number of shovels. Three or four wheelbarrows will be
needed. A metal bar helps to prise boulders out of the ground, and to move them into position
in the causeway. A strong sack or two will make it much easier to lift very heavy stones onto
whatever means of transport is available. (While the stones can be carried or rolled down to
the site, this involves a great deal of extra effort, and a tractor or lorry, if available, is
extremely useful. Other means of transport, such as trailers or carts, could also be used, and
if the supply of stone is a little way away from the causeway, then some form of transport is
essential.)
A drain has to be made through the centre of the causeway to deal with low volumes of water
and to prevent the causeway silting up. This is formed by using corrugated metal half-
sections, which are joined together during construction. Thirteen or fourteen of these are
required, and will need to have a diameter (width at the widest point) of 60 to 70cm.
Organisation is important, because a large number of people need to get together during
construction. First, it may be necessary to get permission from the government or from the
local community leader. Next, it is important that the community elders or council hold a
meeting to explain what is proposed, and to make sure enough people are willing to help with
the work. To build a causeway in a week or less takes a hundred or more people - the more
the better - and it is important that this is understood. Although it is possible to build with
fewer people, it is not practical.
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