Maggie wandering between ruins. The Romans used brick and mortar extensively. Often bricks were laid with mortar as forms for an interior of concrete. The disappearance of Roman power in western Europe during the 5th century led to a decline in building technology. Brickmaking became rare and was not revived until the 14th century. Concrete disappeared entirely, and it would not be until the 19th century that man-made cements would equal Roman concretes. We've read that Roman bricks were most often triangular and were laid apex inward, but we haven't been able to see this on our own.

© Monica & Mark Hughes 2000-02