April
22
/ 2023
A team of scientists in Spain appear to have discovered the elusive formula for lime plaster and mortar used by the ancient Maya of Mexico and Central America. It seems that the incredibly durable Maya plaster, which has withstood the ravages of time and nature magnificently, contained tree bark extracts in addition to the usual mixture of limestone and water. Unlocking the Ingredients of Ancient Maya Plaster The Maya plaster paste produced by this unique combination was extraordinarily strong once it hardened. It nevertheless was high enough in plasticity and flexibility to avoid cracking and peeling, even after being exposed to the elements for more than 1,000 years. For more than 10,000 years, lime plaster has been used to seal
