The masonry profession is one of the oldest in the world. The history of masonry goes hand-in-hand with the development of masonry materials and tools, engineering and architecture. Archeologists have discovered ancient aqueducts bringing water from distant mountains into the deserts of the Near East. With mud-brick and stone architecture, masons built towns and fortressed walls and left giant pyramids in Egypt and South America. Architectural styles reveal elaborate bonds of brick and stone with quoin corners and roman arches.