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Why did Roman concrete last longer than many modern materials?
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Interior view of the Pantheon in Rome, showing the coffered concrete dome with a central oculus letting in natural light above ornate walls. Diagram explaining hot mixing in Roman concrete production, showing steps from preparing quicklime, volcanic ash, and aggregates, to mixing with water, and illustrating how the resulting concrete self-repairs using lime clasts formed during hot mixing to create calcium carbonate in cracks. Pont du Gard, Nîmes, France
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Interior view of the Pantheon in Rome, showing the coffered concrete dome with a central oculus letting in natural light above ornate walls.
Pantheon, Rome The interior of the Pantheon's coffered ceiling, which is made from Roman concrete, in Rome.

Why did Roman concrete last longer than many modern materials?

Written by
Estela Morais Westphalen
Estela Morais Westphalen was an Editorial Intern for Encyclopaedia Britannica. Estela graduated from Brown University with a Master's in Public Affairs and a bachelor's degree magna cum laude...
Estela Morais Westphalen
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
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•History

What do the mythical monster Hydra, human bones, and Roman concrete all have in common? They are self-healing. When they break, they restore. That is the secret to why Roman concrete lasts longer than many modern materials. Roman concrete, opus caementicium, is durable, versatile, and self-healing. These properties have enabled the likes of the Pantheon, ancient Roman aqueducts, and even parts of the Colosseum to survive two millennia, while some Brutalist buildings from the 1960s...

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