Joe Palaski

Concrete: An Ancient Roman Invention

The ancient Romans made a lot of structural innovations such as arches, aqueducts, and

columns. However, all these innovation wouldnt have been possible if it wasnt for Roman

concrete. Roman concrete was a marvel of its day and a main reason of why the Romans were

able to thrive.

The Romans first started using concrete to build with about 2,100 years ago. They first

used the concrete to build buildings as wells as aqueducts, bridges, and statues. This concrete

had proven to be extraordinarily durable since many Roman structures are still standing today.

The Roman scholar Pliny the Elder wrote about the durability of Roman concrete. He said that

the best concrete was made from volcanic ash found in the regions around the Gulf of Naples. In

this region is the town of Pozzuoli, which is where the ash, pozzolana, receives it name. (1, 3)

Researchers have discovered the secret to the durability of Roman concrete. To make the

concrete, grounded limestone, water, and the pozzolana ash were mixed together. This mixture

was then combined with volcanic rocks, called tuff, for more support. It could then be packed

and molded into the desired shape. To build underwater structures, the mixture was placed into

wooden forms. The seawater triggered a chemical reaction, allowing for a strong chemical bond

to form and for the mixture to harden quickly. Since the concrete was able to set quickly in

water, elaborate harbors and piers were able to be built with the concrete. Also, this chemical

reaction allowed for the concrete in the seawater to be a little but stronger than the concrete on
land. Compared to the concrete of today, Roman concrete is a lot more resilient. Roman concrete

was able to endure chemical decay and aging, which can be seen in many ancient Roman

buildings, such as the Roman Colosseum, that are still standing today. Todays concrete only has

a life of about 50 years and is worn out by seawater quite quickly. Ancient concrete was so

sturdy in water because of the chemical reactions that occurred between the seawater and the

lime and ash mixture. The production todays concrete also produces a lot of carbon dioxide,

which can be harmful to the environment in large quantities. This just goes to say that Roman

concrete was an ancient marvel that is better for the environment than its modern version. All in

all, Ancient concrete may be more durable than modern concrete, but modern concrete is a lot

stronger and can withstand more weight. (2, 3)

Even though Roman concrete was quite successful, it disappeared from use when the

Roman Empire fell. During the Middle Ages, not many concrete structures were built. This may

be partly because craftsman during the middle ages did not use the Roman recipe with the secret

ingredient of volcanic ash. This suggests that the volcanic ash was one of the secrets to the

durability of Roman concrete and is why the Romans were able to build such elaborate structures

that still stand today. (3)

1. http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/10-innovations-that-built-ancient-rome
2. http://www.history.com/news/the-secrets-of-ancient-roman-concrete
3. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-secrets-of-ancient-romes-buildings-

234992/