How are ancient Roman and Mayan buildings still standing? Scientists are unlocking their secrets
Associated Press
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Tourist walk through the Acropolis of Copan, an ancient Maya site in western Honduras, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. In Copan, intricate lime sculptures and temples remain intact even after more than 1,000 years exposed to a hot, humid environment. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)A general view of the Royal Residential Group buildings of Copan, an ancient Maya site in western Honduras, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)Visitors walk along the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall of China in northern China's Hebei Province, Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Scientists are trying to understand how some ancient buildings have lasted for centuries in hopes of making modern buildings more durable. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)"1886" is carved into a brick covered in mortar at a tower on the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall of China in northern China's Hebei Province, Wednesday, July 5, 2023. The mortar that holds together some of Chinas most famous structures including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City includes traces of starch from sticky rice. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)A vendor adjusts her hat as she waits for visitors to arrive at her refreshment stand in a tower on the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall of China in northern China's Hebei Province, Wednesday, July 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Visitors walk along the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall of China in northern China's Hebei Province, Wednesday, July 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Visitors tour the Garden of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, known as Dining gong huayuan, at the Forbidden City in Beijing on Thursday, July 13, 2023. The mortar that holds together some of Chinas most famous structures including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City includes traces of starch from sticky rice. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)Visitors tour the Garden of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, known as Dining gong huayuan, at the Forbidden City in Beijing on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)A child wearing a traditional costume poses for a photo against a wall of the Garden of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, known as Dining gong huayuan, at the Forbidden City in Beijing on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)Visitors rest inside a hall of the Garden of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, known as Dining gong huayuan, at the Forbidden City in Beijing on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)Rome's Pantheon is seen on Monday, July 24, 2023. The structure was built under Roman Emperor Augustus between 27-25 BC to celebrate all gods worshipped in ancient Rome and rebuilt under Emperor Hadrian between 118 and 128 A.D. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)One of four heads of "Bacabs", gods also known as "Pauahtun," stands over Temple 11 in Copan, an ancient Maya site in western Honduras, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. Scientists are trying to understand how some ancient buildings have lasted for centuries in hopes of making modern buildings more durable. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)A wall of Rome's Pantheon is seen on Monday, July 24, 2023. Scientists are trying to understand how some ancient buildings have lasted for centuries in hopes of making modern buildings more durable. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)Cement surrounded by bricks is exposed in Rome's Pantheon on Monday, July 24, 2023. Scientists think theyve found a key reason why some Roman concrete has held up structures for thousands of years: The ancient material has an unusual power to repair itself. Exactly how is not yet clear, but scientists are starting to find clues. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)An ancient structure in Rome's Pantheon is seen on Monday, July 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)Visitors tour the interior of the Pantheon's dome in Rome, on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)The Hieroglyphic Stairway ascends at the Acropolis of Copan, an ancient Maya site in western Honduras, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. The 20 meter-high staircase is carved with more than 2000 glyphs. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)Stela B (dated to 731 A.D) stands on the western side at the great plaza of Copan, an ancient Maya site in western Honduras, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)The Ball Court at the Acropolis of Copan, an ancient Maya site in western Honduras, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)Original stucco covers the carved stones of a house part of "Las Sepulturas," a residential area for the nobility, at the ancient Maya site Copan in western Honduras, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. When scientists zoomed in, they saw that bits of organic material from tree juice got incorporated into the plasters molecular structure. In this way, the Mayan plaster was able to mimic sturdy natural structures like seashells and sea urchin spines and borrow some of their toughness, says Carlos Rodriguez-Navarro, a cultural heritage researcher at Spains University of Granada. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)The residential gruup "Nez Chinchilla" is located north of the great plaza of Copan, an ancient Maya site in western Honduras, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)A stucco mask, part of the substructure "Rosalila," is seen through a window inside Temple 16, the central building of the Acropolis of Copan, an ancient Maya site in western Honduras, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)A stucco relief is seen inside the "Jaguar Tunnel" at the Acropolis of Copan, an ancient Maya site in western Honduras, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
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Tourist walk through the Acropolis of Copan, an ancient Maya site in western Honduras, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. In Copan, intricate lime sculptures and temples remain intact even after more than 1,000 years exposed to a hot, humid environment. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)