ABSTRACT
Bitumen or asphalt is well known and used since ancient times, because it is the oldest and widely accepted structural material. It is used since 6000 BC as a waterproofing and binder material of great quality. A prominent example of bitumen use is cited in the Old Testament, since it was used as coating for Noah’s Ark. The Sumerians used to use it in the prosperous shipbuilding industry, whereas the Babylonians used it as a binder in the mixture production for castle construction (Babel Tower). Asphalt was also used by the Egyptians both to mummify the dead bodies and to waterproof tanks. Around 3000 BC, the Persians also used bitumen for road construction. Finally, Herodotus and Plinius describe bitumen’s export and use.
