Behauene

Behauene is the participle adjective of the German verb behauen, meaning to hew, carve, or shape by cutting with tools. It describes material that has been worked by trimming and shaping, such as stones or stones in architectural elements, where faces have been produced through chiseling and cutting.

Etymology and form: behauen derives from Middle High German be-houwen, with the prefix be- added to hauen (to hew or strike). The resulting participle behauen is used attributively or predicatively, for example in phrases like behauene Steine or behauene Quader.

Usage and contexts: The term is common in architecture, sculpture, and archaeology to indicate that a material has been formed by deliberate cutting rather than left in a rough or natural state. Typical examples include behaute Steine (hewn stones), behauene Quader (carved ashlar), and behauene Ornamentik (carved ornamentation). It often implies a regular, tool-worked finish, though the degree of finish can vary from rough to finely worked, depending on historical period and regional practice. The concept is distinct from unworked or natural stone and from surfaces that are simply planed or polished with different terms such as gehobene or geschliffen, which emphasize different finishing steps.

See also: stone masonry, hewing, chiseling, ashlar.