(from the article `building construction`) ...the difficulties of cutting large trees with stone tools limited the use of sizable timbers to frames. These frames were usually rectangular in ... Found on http://www.britannica.com/eb/a-z/r/48
Ridge'pole` noun (Architecture) The timber forming the ridge of a roof, into which the rafters are secured. Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/R/80