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← HistoryWhich primary structural vulnerability was consistently exploited when employing siege towers against ancient fortifications?
A)Undermining of foundation stones
B)Brittle fracture of wall masonry
C)Concentrated lateral load at merlons✓
D)Thermal shock weakening from fires
💡 Explanation
When siege towers approached merlon-crenelation defenses, the primary issue was concentrated lateral load because the tower applied force high up which could cause sections of the wall to collapse if the merlons were weak. Therefore the failure at merlons results, rather than undermining, fracture, or thermal shock which involve different attack vectors.
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