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arz · 06-02-2003, 06:35 PM

Well, the Colosseum is built of several different materials. The main structural parts of the Colosseum are made of tufa, which is "rockified" volcanic ash and not very hard. The inner support structure (the grandstands and the basement area) is made of green brick, which is a clay brick that is baked but not kiln-fired.

The brick structure is held together with cement. The massive tufa blocks were originally reinforced with iron bands, but those were scavenged centuries ago. Nowadays it's held up by its own weight and by some reinforcing brickwork at the ends of the outer ring (5/8ths of which collapsed in that 9th century earthquake).

Also, interestingly, the Colosseum for centuries was a veritable hanging garden of exotic flora, brought no doubt by the animals and the audience members from their native lands.

Granted, asphalt streets and lots would be subsumed by weeds very quickly, but I think the foundation of the Empire State building would remain recognizable for tens of millenia. Even the WTC collapse didn't reduce everything to dust; the foundations were clearly recognizable and the rubble pile was both small and large pieces of building.

06-02-2003, 06:35 PM	#11
arz Hand-of-Kindness Extender Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: So Cal Posts: 137	Well, the Colosseum is built of several different materials. The main structural parts of the Colosseum are made of tufa, which is "rockified" volcanic ash and not very hard. The inner support structure (the grandstands and the basement area) is made of green brick, which is a clay brick that is baked but not kiln-fired. The brick structure is held together with cement. The massive tufa blocks were originally reinforced with iron bands, but those were scavenged centuries ago. Nowadays it's held up by its own weight and by some reinforcing brickwork at the ends of the outer ring (5/8ths of which collapsed in that 9th century earthquake). Also, interestingly, the Colosseum for centuries was a veritable hanging garden of exotic flora, brought no doubt by the animals and the audience members from their native lands. Granted, asphalt streets and lots would be subsumed by weeds very quickly, but I think the foundation of the Empire State building would remain recognizable for tens of millenia. Even the WTC collapse didn't reduce everything to dust; the foundations were clearly recognizable and the rubble pile was both small and large pieces of building.