Harvard Art Museums > 1912.44: Fragment of Concrete from Chur, Switzerland Material Specimens Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Fragment of Concrete from Chur, Switzerland , 1912.44,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Apr 25, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/293294. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 1912.44 Title Fragment of Concrete from Chur, Switzerland Classification Material Specimens Work Type material specimen Date 2nd century BCE-3rd century CE Period Roman Imperial period Culture Roman Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/293294 Physical Descriptions Technique Assemblage Dimensions 7.5 x 5.5 x 4.1 cm (2 15/16 x 2 3/16 x 1 5/8 in.) Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of The Misses Norton Accession Year 1912 Object Number 1912.44 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description Chunk of Roman concrete with large inclusions. Cement is darkened in color and has one large rock that runs almost the entire length of the chunk. There are smaller pebbles included in the cement on the opposite side of the large rock. Commentary LIVE LIKE A ROMAN: DAILY LIFE OBJECT COLLECTION The Romans were the first to develop and use concrete. They started using it in construction during the Republic, during the second century BCE. Concrete is a mixture of cement, which acts as the binder, and an aggregate, which could be any material ranging from rocks to tiles. The cement was often hydraulic, meaning it was mixed with water and hardened over time. The Romans even knew how to use concrete under water, and examples of this type of architecture can be seen in the city of Caesarea. One of the most famous uses of Roman concrete is the Pantheon in Rome, which was built in 126 CE. [Jessica Pesce 8/18/2010] Verification Level This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
