The Roman Use of Concrete on Trajan’s Column and Modern Cinder Block Construction
By R. Michael Cook
This paper was written to tie together three issues: modern masonry, Roman construction, and the reliefs on Trajan’s Column. More specifically, I have focused on the stone walls shown on these reliefs, ancient and secondary sources, and modern cinder block walls. Construction, and masonry, in the Roman Empire appear to be similar to my own experience. Materials have changed, standardization has increased, but the basic structure, or make-up of the walls has changed very little over time.