In contrast to modern cranes, medieval cranes and hoists – much like their counterparts in Greece and Rome[22] – were primarily capable of a vertical lift, and not used to move loads for a considerable distance horizontally as well.[19] Accordingly, lifting work was organized at the workplace in a different way than today. In building construction, for example, it is assumed that the crane lifted the stone blocks either from the bottom directly into place,[19] or from a place opposite the centre of the wall from where it could deliver the blocks for two teams working at each end of the wall.[22] Additionally, the crane master who usually gave orders at the treadwheel workers from outside the crane was able to manipulate the movement laterally by a small rope attached to the load.[23] Slewing cranes which allowed a rotation of the load and were thus particularly suited for dockside work appeared as early as 1340.[24] While ashlar blocks were directly lifted by sling, lewis or devil's clamp (German Teufelskralle), other objects were placed before in containers like pallets, baskets, wooden boxes or barrels