Mason's mark

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A mason's mark is a symbol often found on dressed stone in buildings and other public structures. It is also found in some forms of freemasonry as a type of unique signature or identifying mark: Mark Masonry is a separate degree in freemasonry, and Scottish rules issued in 1598 stated that on admission to a fraternity, every mason had to enter his name and his mark in a register.

The exact purpose of mason's marks is unclear, although it is generally assumed that they mark the working of a piece of masonry by a particular mason, in order to claim payment. Others are assumed to indicate the position in which a stone should be laid. It has also been suggested that marks indicate the origin of the stone, or the location in which it was worked.