← Back to all stories
Ancient Roman Shipwreck Rewrites History of Maritime Engineering with Natural Waterproofing Secrets
Photo: NOAA / Unsplash
Scientists studying a 2,200-year-old Roman shipwreck have discovered that ancient builders used a sophisticated mixture of pine tar and beeswax to waterproof the hull. Trapped pollen within these natural coatings has acted as a geographic fingerprint, allowing researchers to map out the exact historic landscapes where the ship was repaired.
Scientists studying a 2,200-year-old Roman shipwreck have discovered that ancient builders used a sophisticated mixture of pine tar and beeswax to waterproof the hull. Trapped pollen within these natural coatings has acted as a geographic fingerprint, allowing researchers to map out the exact historic landscapes where the ship was repaired.