A thin, flat stone resembling a board. Also called a plate stone. The stone can be divided into three types depending on the surface treatment: ara-ita 荒板 (a natural, rough stone); nomikiri-ita 鑿切板 (a stone well chiseled on the top side and roughly chiseled on all four sides); yamatataki-ita 山たたき板 (a stone that has the top side pounded slightly to make the surface fairly level and all four sides are considerably chiseled). Ita-ishi also are used for roofing, pedestals, bridges and well cribs. |