Stone slab

A stone slab is a big stone that is usually flat and of little thickness that is generally used for paving floors, covering walls or headstones.

Other definitions refine the meaning a bit more:
 Flat big stone and of little thickness.
 Flat stone, relatively thin, of rectangular form or almost rectangular...

 Slabs used in dolmens 
A Dolmen is a type of tomb with one large burial chamber. Most dolmen constructions were built using stone slabs of large dimensions. Their architecture often includes a corridor of access that can be constructed using stone slabs or dry stones. The burial chamber, with variable shapes (rectangular, polygonal, oval, circular, etc.) can also have an anteroom. In some dolmens, the entrance has a door cut into one or more vertical stone slabs.
 Slabs in construction 
The main applications of slabs as construction materials are for paving and in the construction of roofs. However, they can be employed for other uses, including:

 Balconies formed from a slab.
 Dry stone constructions of walls, caves, or rooms.
 The base of some fireplaces are built with stone slabs (one large slab or multiple smaller ones).
 In religious altars, the altar stone can be a stone slab, either decorated or in its natural state.
 Rustic tables.
 Slate slabs used for roofs.

 Slabs in cooking 
One way to cook food is “to the slab”, relating to the term "to the iron". This refers to the method of cooking where a slab is placed on a fire to heat up. The stone slab is then used in place of a pan, with oil, butter, or other dressings put on as well.
 This system was rather popular in zones of the Pyrenees and often practiced by farmers and shepherds. 
 The same slab used to cook can sometimes be used to serve as well. When serving, the rock will stay hot for longer, heating the food as well.

 Grave slabs 
From prehistoric times there are examples of graves covered with a stone slab, in its natural state or carved. 

These tombstones may also have inscriptions. The information on the stone slab traditionally includes the name of the deceased, their date of birth, and their date of death. The inscriptions are generally in the frontal side of the stone slab but also in some cases in the back and around the edges of the slab. Some families request to write an inscription in the unseen part of the stone slab (oriented to the ground). Apart from the name, some slabs also have epitaphs in praise of the deceased or citations of religious texts, as "Requiescat in pace".

 Related pages 
 Sandstone
 Slate
 Gravestone

 References 

Other websites

Category:Architectural elements