The secrets of ancient Roman and Mayan construction can unlock a greener future

[Oct. 4, 2023: Staff Writer, The Brighter Side of News]

In a modern age defined by rapid technological advancements, researchers are turning to history, examining the wonders of ancient civilizations, to inspire a more sustainable future for construction.

The remnants of ancient builders’ craftsmanship, from the impressive concrete sea barriers by Roman engineers to the detailed plaster sculptures dedicated to the gods by Maya masons, continue to inspire awe. These structures, some millennia old, outlast many of today's structures built with modern concrete that barely last a century.

Our crumbling infrastructures stand testament to the shortcomings of contemporary construction materials. Paradoxically, ancient construction methods might provide the key to lasting modern edifices. Researchers are therefore diving deep into history, studying texts and examining the material composition of ancient marvels.

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Historical reverse engineering reveals intriguing ancient construction recipes with ingredients like tree bark, volcanic ash, and even beer and urine. Such unconventional materials imbued structures with impressive properties like self-healing.

The construction sector today is a significant environmental offender, contributing over a third of global CO2 emissions. Given the urgency of climate change, reinventing construction techniques by taking cues from the ancients is not just nostalgic but critical.

While modern concrete uses Portland cement, ancient Roman architects utilized burnt limestone and volcanic sand. These materials, combined in precise ratios, resulted in structures like the Pantheon and aqueducts that defy time.

Recent studies by Admir Masic from MIT suggest the self-healing nature of Roman concrete is due to unevenly distributed lime chunks. As cracks form, water activates these lime pockets, inducing chemical reactions that heal the cracks.

Marie Jackson, a geologist at the University of Utah, provides another perspective. She believes the specific volcanic materials the Romans used, which adapt over time interacting with the elements, are the key to the longevity of their concrete. “The concrete was so well designed that it sustains itself,” she commented.

In the Mayan site Copan, Honduras, lime sculptures and temples have survived over a millennium. Researchers discovered that local masons, tracing their lineage to the Mayans, incorporated extracts from chukum and jiote trees in their lime mix, fortifying the material.

Other ancient construction secrets include the use of fruit extracts, milk, cheese curd, beer, and even sticky rice starch, as evidenced in China’s iconic Great Wall and Forbidden City.

Cecilia Pesce from the University of Sheffield hypothesizes that the ancients may not always have been strategic. Some ancient builders might have thrown in whatever was available, and "now, we only have the buildings that survived," she notes. However, there are examples of deliberate strategy, like in India, where builders adjusted materials based on regional conditions.

Despite the benefits of ancient construction, it's not feasible to replicate their methods exactly. For instance, ancient Roman concrete may endure, but it lacks the strength for skyscrapers. The goal, therefore, is to combine old wisdom with contemporary techniques.

To this end, researchers are integrating the unique features of ancient materials into modern constructions. Masic, for example, is part of a startup aiming to use Roman-inspired “self-healing” concrete in new constructions.

While the exact replication of ancient methods might be impractical for today's advanced structures, they serve as a blueprint. By extending the longevity of modern constructions even by half a century, the environmental and economic benefits would be immense.

Note: Materials provided above by The Brighter Side of News. Content may be edited for style and length.

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