"A unique archaeological site at Pompeii, Italy, reveals the secrets of peculiarly durable Roman building materials."
"The Romans created iconic structures from concrete - from the dome of Rome's Pantheon to the roads that stretched across their empire. Researchers now have a better idea of how."
Archaeological evidence from Pompeii reveals how Roman builders formulated exceptionally durable concretes. Roman mixes combined lime, volcanic ash (pozzolana), and aggregates to produce binders that chemically evolved into strong mineral phases over time. In marine and humid environments, reactions between volcanic components and seawater promoted formation of interlocking crystalline minerals that increased cohesion and resistance to cracking. These processes produced long-lasting structures such as the Pantheon dome and extensive road networks. Understanding these ancient materials offers insights for designing lower-carbon, longer-lived modern cements and concrete technologies.
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