The legacy of Pompeii, while often tied to the Vesuvius eruption, goes beyond the catastrophe to account for an incredible chapter of history – ranging from pre-Roman temples to astounding frescoes. As it turns out, the legacy also boasts its fair share of innovative features, as was identified by independent scholars and researchers from the University of Massachusetts and the University of Texas. To that end, according to a recent paper published in the American Journal of Archaeology in April, the Romans made use of molten iron to repair streets inside Pompeii before the Vesuvius eruption in circa 79 AD.
The study was carried out in 2014, with the assessment revealing how many of Pompeii's streets were originally paved with stone. But over time, the passage of carts and carriages made their literal marks on the paths, thereby creating small depressions and ruts. One particular case study revealed how a busy narrow stone-paved street inside the ancient city could get broken down in a matter of few decades. Now while one of the straightforward solutions entailed repaving these sections with stones, the predicament related to how the process was not only time-consuming but also expensive.
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