The underlying substance is Sumerian bitumen: a naturally occurring petroleum material (often called an asphalt-like “black goo”) long associated with waterproofing and adhesion, and even with ...

Sumerians used advanced ancient technology to engineer bitumen with fibers and minerals, revealing sophisticated material science.

A team of researchers has discovered that the ancient craftsmen of Mesopotamia applied material engineering principles remarkably similar to those used today to make asphalt. The study, published in ...