Remarkably, at least two Roman dams in southwestern Spain, Proserpina and Cornalvo, are still in use, roughly 1900 years after their construction! The Proserpina Dam, 22 m high, has a masonry-faced core wall of concrete backed by earth; it may be regarded therefore as a forerunner of the modern earthen dam. The Proserpina is strengthened on the upstream face by buttresses. Its purpose was to supply water for industrial use. The Cornalvo dam was 24 m high, which also made it the highest Roman dam outside of Italy. Cornalvo also show[s] advancement in design: its masonry wall was constructed of cells, which were filled with stones or clay, and faced with mortar. It was built in order to provide drinking water. [Cracking Dams: Embankment Dams]
Dam!
It’s humbling, isn’t it? Thousands of years ago dams, roads and buildings were constructed that still stand, some still in use. Modern technology has trouble constructing anything that lasts more than fifty years.
When was the old Marib dam in Yemen built, the one the moslems allowed to fall to pieces and be destroyed.
It’s ironic the dam was destroyed by one of the floods it was built to contain.