The study reflects broad collaboration across disciplines and national lines, with funding support from MIT and contributions from Italian archaeologists and other researchers.

Evidence from Pompeii includes pre-mixed dry material piles, intact quicklime fragments, and a finished wall with buttresses, allowing precise reconstruction of ingredients and preparation steps.

Lead researcher emphasizes that studying ancient materials has both historical importance and practical scientific value for current construction.

While acknowledging Vitruvius’ influence, the team aims to translate selective ideas into contemporary construction practices rather than copying ancient methods verbatim.

The researchers highlight the exceptional preservation of Pompeii’s site, providing a time-capsule view of workers mixing and placing concrete in 79 CE.

A new Nature Communications study of Pompeii’s ancient concrete reveals Romans used a hot-mixed recipe—quicklime with volcanic ash—to produce durable, self-healing concrete, challenging Vitruvius’ description.

Experts say these findings could inform modern infrastructure by reducing maintenance and resource use through ancient engineering insights.

The goal is to translate aspects of Roman knowledge into modern materials, not to replicate Roman concrete exactly, preserving historical context while advancing technology.

The Nature Communications paper is led by MIT Associate Professor Admir Masic, with collaboration from Ellie Vaserman, James Weaver, Kristin Bergmann, Claire Hayhow, and Italian partners; DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-66634-7.

Experts unaffiliated with the study call it a significant and elegant contribution to Roman archaeology and materials science, deepening understanding of ancient engineering and restoration practices.

Researchers envision translating Roman concrete science into modern long-lasting, regenerating concretes, while noting Vitruvius’s treatise may require reinterpretation for current use.

Isotopic analysis shows Romans combined dry lime clasts with pumice and added water to form a cementing matrix, with pumice-driven mineral deposits strengthening the material over time.