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Ancient Eco-Tech Uncovered in Lebanon: Phoenicians Used Recycled Pottery for Hydraulic Lime Plaster 2,700 Years Ago
Arkeonews ^ | July 23, 2025 | Oguz Kayra

Posted on 08/25/2025 3:39:14 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

In a major archaeological breakthrough, researchers have identified the earliest known use of hydraulic lime plaster in Phoenician architecture -- crafted not from volcanic ash like Roman concrete, but using recycled ceramic pottery. This discovery, made at the Iron Age site of Tell el-Burak in southern Lebanon, sheds light on ancient sustainability practices and high-level engineering previously unattributed to the Phoenicians.

The findings, published in Scientific Reports (2025), come from a multidisciplinary study of plaster samples collected from three installations, including a well-preserved wine press dating to ca. 725–600 BCE.
Ancient Wine Infrastructure Built with Recycled Pottery
Located just 9 km south of Sidon, Tell el-Burak was a key agricultural hub for the Phoenician city-state. Among its most significant features is a massive wine press, consisting of a large grape treading basin connected to a 4,500-liter fermentation vat -- both covered in a specialized lime-based plaster.

What made this plaster extraordinary was its composition: crushed ceramic fragments -- likely broken amphorae -- intentionally added to the lime binder. These ceramic inclusions acted as pozzolanic material, reacting chemically with the lime to form a hydraulic mortar -- a material capable of setting and hardening in wet environments.

(Excerpt) Read more at arkeonews.net ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: arkeonews; godsgravesglyphs; oenology; phoenicians; zymurgy
Reconstruction of the wine press at Tell el-Burak.
Credit: A. Orsingher et al., Antiquity (2020)
Credit: A. Orsingher et al., Antiquity (2020)

1 posted on 08/25/2025 3:39:14 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

2 posted on 08/25/2025 3:40:22 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Wow. Ancient Roman gunnite!


3 posted on 08/25/2025 3:45:47 PM PDT by GaltAdonis
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To: SunkenCiv
Well, Phoenicians are very industrious fellows. I’m sure they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. It is a perfectly sane thing to do.


4 posted on 08/25/2025 3:52:37 PM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: Larry Lucido

Elissa of Tyre made her getaway on a horse she paid for with my money.


5 posted on 08/25/2025 4:15:32 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: SunkenCiv
No nubile sun kissed maidens?

Some people are going to be very disappointed with this recreation. :)

6 posted on 08/25/2025 4:31:56 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Not my circus. Not my monkeys. But I can pick out the clowns at 100 yards.)
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To: SunkenCiv

And 2000 years before that, man used recycled trees for fire and rocks for tools. All thanks to climate change and tge lgbt+ community, including their allies.

Same allies that literally defeated Hitler.


7 posted on 08/25/2025 7:39:34 PM PDT by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
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To: SunkenCiv

They fought Climate Change!................


8 posted on 08/26/2025 5:37:41 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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