Archaeologists uncover ancient Roman concrete technology at Pompeii ruins
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Archaeologists excavating at Pompeii have uncovered the secret behind the longevity of ancient Roman structures: a unique concrete mixture that can chemically repair itself over time.
A recent study published in the journal Nature Communications in early December looked at a construction site abandoned after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
The construction site was buried under volcanic ash, which preserved it for approximately 2000 years. Archaeologists found rooms with unfinished walls, piles of pre-mixed dry building materials, and weighing and measuring instruments for preparing concrete.
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Construction workers were building domestic quarters, a bakery with ovens, grain washing ponds and storage facilities when the volcano erupted.
Researchers in the field have found that the Romans used a special method to develop durable, self-healing concrete, a substance that revolutionized architecture.
A newly analyzed construction site in Pompeii preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 reveals that Roman builders used a self-healing concrete technique that helped structures last for centuries. (Richard Baker/In Pictures via Getty Images; Leemage/Corbis via Getty Images)
It was no secret that the Romans used concrete – it was used in the construction of the Colosseum, the Pantheon and countless other ancient buildings – but the specific method of mixing concrete was unknown until now.
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The Romans used a technique called “hot mixing” by adding quicklime to water, volcanic rock, and ash, triggering a chemical reaction that naturally heated the mixture.
The method created white chips called lime chips, and when water seeped in, these chips dissolved and turned into calcium carbonate, allowing the concrete to heal and seal the damage.
The ruins of Pompeii, preserved under volcanic ash, provide insight into Roman engineering and construction practices. (Eliano Imperato/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Admir Masic, a co-author of the study, told Reuters he felt like he “traveled back in time” during the dig.
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Masic said working on the construction site was like “standing next to workers as they mix and place concrete.”
The history of this area dates back a century after the Romans began industrializing concrete in the 1st century BC. This method differed from previous documents of the period, particularly that written by the Roman architect Vitruvius.
The Roman method heated the concrete mixture from the inside, increasing its durability and long-term stability. (Antonio Balasco/KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The study also revealed that the concrete technique described by Vitruvius may have become obsolete at the time of the eruption of Vesuvius.
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“Think about what a 100-year difference means in terms of construction technology. The first telephones might be a good analogy,” Masic told Reuters. “In the 1920s and ’30s: rotary dialing, long-distance copper lines. In the 2020s: smartphones using packet-switched digital signals and wireless networks.”
The MIT professor also suggested that the Pompeii discovery might reveal some ancient wisdom that modern builders could benefit from.
Pompeii, a popular destination for history buffs, now offers clues to sustainable modern building techniques, Masic said. (Marco Cantile/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“Modern concretes often lack the ability to self-heal, which is increasingly important as we seek longer-lasting, lower-maintenance infrastructure,” he said.
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“So while the ancient process itself is not a direct replacement for modern standards, the resulting principles can inform the design of a new generation of durable, low-carbon concretes.”
Reuters contributed reporting.
