Ancient Clay Bricks: Manufacture and Properties

Clay brick masonry is one of the oldest and most durable construction techniques used by mankind. Masonry consists of manually built stable stacks of small elements, with or without mortar. It was a fundamental building material in the Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Roman periods. During the Roman period, the use of clay brick increased and became specialized in order to maximize its benefits. Clay brick masonry continued to be used during medieval and modern times. Despite several modifications of the clay brick uses, shape and manufacture along thousands of years of constant evolution, the simplicity that made its success remained.

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