Archaeologists working at the Phoenician site of Tell el-Burak in Lebanon have uncovered an intriguing discovery that sheds new light on Iron Age construction technology. In a Scientific Reports paper, researchers describe the first known use of hydraulic lime plaster in the Phoenician lands, with a surprising level of innovation achieved through recycling ceramic fragments.
Tell el-Burak, located near the southern coast of Lebanon, was an early agricultural site occupied between 725 and 350 BCE. At the site, archaeologists found such facilities as a large wine press—believed to be Lebanon’s oldest wine press—as well as plastered basins and floors that made up part of a larger agricultural complex. These structures, though varied in function, had one feature in common: they were coated with a distinctive plaster different from standard ancient lime mixtures.
To identify the composition and purpose of this plaster, the researchers conducted an extensive analysis of the material using a combination of techniques, including polarized light microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and thermogravimetric analysis. These techniques confirmed that the plaster contained lime and locally available sand, but also a high level of crushed ceramic fragments.
The occurrence of ceramic material was not accidental. Microscopic analysis confirmed that the lime binder and ceramic fragments had reacted to form distinctive reaction rims. These chemical reactions indicate that the ceramics were deliberately added to enhance the properties of the plaster. The result was a mortar that would harden in the presence of water—a key characteristic of hydraulic plaster. This type of mortar would have been particularly useful in a wine press, where it would be exposed to constant moisture and would otherwise erode more fragile materials.
This is significant because it shows that Iron Age builders in the southern Phoenician lands had developed a form of hydraulic mortar several centuries before the Romans popularized similar techniques. The mortar from Tell el-Burak was not based on volcanic or organic materials; instead, its water resistance was achieved through the use of crushed pottery—a locally available material. Interestingly, the Romans later employed a similar method known as cocciopesto, which also used ceramic sherds to create hydraulic mortar. While the technique is commonly attributed to the Romans, the evidence from Tell el-Burak suggests that the Phoenicians had been using it effectively much earlier.
The plaster was found in a number of areas at the site, which means that this technique was not an isolated experiment but part of a larger craftsmanship tradition. The fact that this material was consistently used in several installations makes it clear that the builders had an advanced understanding of how to modify lime-based plasters to suit a broad variety of functions, from juice extraction in the wine press to lining basins and floors.
This research disproves the traditional explanation of technological development in ancient construction, especially the one that focuses on Roman innovation. Instead, it highlights the ingenuity of earlier cultures like the Phoenicians, who reused available materials and developed effective construction techniques years before such techniques gained widespread recognition. The Tell el-Burak find contributes to our understanding of ancient engineering and suggests that hydraulic mortar expertise was more widespread—and developed sooner—than previously thought.
The study also opens doors to further investigation of ancient construction materials. Through analysis of other sites along the Phoenician coast, archaeologists may find similar applications of recycled ceramics and understand more about the regional technology networks.
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