An Examination of Historical Developments and Technical Characteristics of Mortar-Based Materials and Hydraulic Binders in Europe

Maedeh Ebrahimi Varzaneh¹ Ali Masoumi² Sara Moradi³

1) B.Sc. Student in Civil Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Qom Branch, Qom, Iran
2) Ph.D. Student in Civil Engineering - Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Qom, Qom, Iran
3) B.Sc. Student in Civil Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Qom Branch, Qom, Iran

IOI Code : ABFG-ACABEA
Publication : 12th.international Congress on Civil Engineering, Architecture, Art and Urban Development(12icsau.ir)
Abstract :
    Abstract For thousands of years, mortar-based materials—including bedding mortars, floor screeds, interior wall renders, claddings, exterior wall plasters, and concrete—have served as key construction materials in many civilizations worldwide. This paper reviews the use and development of mortar-based materials in the civilizations of the Middle East and Europe prior to the development of hydraulic cements in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Among them, the traditional and hydraulic mortar known as Sarooj, dating back at least to 1250 BCE in Iran, with compositions such as lime, clay, sand, and organic and inorganic additives, has played a vital role in prominent hydraulic and historical structures such as the Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat. The conclusion of this study indicates that a profound understanding of these indigenous binders and traditional methods is not only instrumental in analyzing the structural behavior of historical monuments and restoration processes, but can also offer sustainable and compatible solutions to the environmental challenges associated with modern Portland cement.

Keywords : middle east europe mortar based materials hydraulic cement sarooj