 Buildings were made out of dry stone masonry, with the walls and floors of the older houses plastered with a concoction of clay and cow-dung.Thick wooden beams were used to support the walls, paying attention to durability and to withstand earthquakes, and wooden cantilever construction was often used to support the verandas.The staircases and doors were made from wood, with the doors often decorated in religious reliefs and flanked by two lamps to light it at night.