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> Did the Romans really know that using certain volcanic rocks would make their concrete structures last longer? Or did they mostly just use whatever aggregate
by bsder 5y ago
> Did the Romans really know that using certain volcanic rocks would make their concrete structures last longer? Or did they mostly just use whatever aggregate was convenient and the structures that have survived are the ones that used the right rocks?
Why not both? How do you think you discover that certain things work better than others?
Humans are clever in any time.
For example, the Pantheon has a very specific profile (thick at bottom to much thinner at center of rise) to the dome in order to allow unreinforced concrete to be used. That's a case of very deliberate design.
Pompeii is in a highly volcanic area. So, digging is difficult and expensive. This put a wrench in the standard formula for Roman building. So, instead, they elevated everything slightly. That's on the spot ingenuity and convenience.
Finally, there is a survivorship bias--structures specifically built with longevity and durability in mind and maintained by people are the ones that survived.
- pmontra 5y agoThe Pantheon is maintained but the Colosseum is not and it shows. The interior of the Colosseum is a pile of rocks. However there is a plan to restore the floor https://www.stirworld.com/see-news-rome-announces-plans-for-restoring-the-colosseum-with-a-retractable-floor https://www.stirworld.com/see-news-rome-announces-plans-for-...
- bsder 5y agoThe Colosseum was also built with lead rebar for earthquake resistance. And that lead rebar was extracted and stolen over the years because the lead was valuable. Taking the rebar out of a building tends to make it a touch less durable.
- CubsFan1060 5y agoIt is very interesting. Certainly there are holes where people have stolen iron. But more importantly, the materials in the Colosseum are massively pillaged by christians for use in other buildings. The Pantheon was turned into a church, and thus was off limits. In Rome they call it "recycling". An interesting article: https://engineeringrome.org/ancient-structures-in-rome-the-colosseum-pantheon/ https://engineeringrome.org/ancient-structures-in-rome-the-c...
- Archelaos 5y agoThe Pantheon was not completely off limits. Pope Urban VIII. (Maffeo Barberini, pontificat 1623-1644) had the bronze cladding of the Pantheon taken down to have 80 canons cast from it. He has had a cover-up story spread that the bronze was used for St. Peter's Basilica.