Publication Date:
2021-06-22
Description:
The building materials of the Theatre of Marcellus, 44–11 BCE, reflect Roman builders’ careful
selections of tuff and travertine for dimension stone and volcanic aggregates for pozzolanic
concretes. The vitric–lithic–crystal Tufo Lionato tuff dimension stone contains a high proportion
of lava lithic fragments, which increase its compressive strength and decrease water
sorption, enhancing durability. Sophisticated installations of travertine dimension stone reinforce
the tuff masonry, which is integrated with durable concrete walls and barrel vaults. The
pozzolanic mortars of the concretes contain harenae fossiciae mainly from the intermediate
alteration facies of the mid-Pleistocene, scoriaceous Pozzolane Rosse pyroclastic flow. They
have pervasive interpenetrating pozzolanic cements, including strätlingite, similar to highquality,
imperial era mortars. Concrete walls are faced with refined Tufo Lionato opus
reticulatum and tufelli, and opus testaceum of fired, greyish-yellow brick. The exploratory
concrete masonry, which includes some of the earliest examples of brick facings and strätlingite
cements in Rome, and the integration of these materials in complex architectural elements
and internal spaces, reflect the highly skilled workmanship, rigorous work-site management
and technical supervision of Roman builders trained in republican era methods and materials.
Description:
Published
Description:
728–742
Description:
JCR Journal
Description:
restricted
Keywords:
VOLCANIC TUFF MASONRY
;
04. Solid Earth::04.08. Volcanology::04.08.99. General or miscellaneous
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
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