Stronger Roads? Saskatchewan versus Ancient Rome.
By Jake G
Every time my hypothesis is a resounding no. Modern asphalt versus ancient Roman cobblestone. The cobblestone is just too solid here.
When I was working on a paving crew I used to hear about how ancient Greece had asphalt. I never really looked into these claims nor did I take the word from my site supervisor to be scholarly. However, something that I can now say with certainty is that the Greeks and Romans both had access to asphalt according to an article "Nursing Mothers in Greek and Roman Medicine" by Julie Laskaris (459).
I know exactly what you're thinking right now because I'm thinking the exact same thing... Nothing strikes up the thought of paved asphalt roads quite like the thought of nursing babies right? Yeah, that definitely struck me as odd that asphalt was used as a chemical compound for nursing too. Regardless, it proves that the ancient Romans had access to asphalt and it also gives us insight on how inefficient asphalt was if they preferred to nurse babies with the stuff rather than pave roadways. Food for thought.
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This is a road in Saskatchewan. Photo by Warren Nesland. |
My former paving crews would have probably been subjected to decimation if we worked for the Roman Empire. I will still never forget the day that I asked a supervisor "hey aren't we not supposed to be paving in the snow." He turned to me and said "Kid, if we dont put this road down this season, we don't get paid this season." Myself and the other crewmates had a great time making jokes about being "Ice road pavers" that day. And that pretty well sums up the problem with why many of our roads don't last. I have paved in torrential downpours more times than I care to admit.
This blog isn't to say that modern pavers, myself included don't try to do a good job and build roads to be reliable like Roman legionnaires did. It is merely to say that times are very different and the motivations and demands for roads for now since then are even more so. Still, I think I'd prefer an ancient Roman cobblestone driveway over modern asphalt when I get a house.
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A throwback to when I was paving roads. |
Bibliography
“Ancient Roman roads – a monument to history and road construction.” Geotech. Accessed June 16, 2024. Ancient Roman roads - a monument to history and road construction (geotech.hr).
Laskaris, Julie. "Nursing Mothers in Greek and Roman
Medicine." (2008): 459-464. Nursing Mothers in Greek and Roman Medicine on JSTOR.
Schriener, Penny. “CAA’s Saskatchewan’s Worst Roads List Names a Southwest Highway.” Swift Current Online. May 2021. CAA Saskatchewan's Worst Roads List Names a Southwest Highway - SwiftCurrentOnline.com - Local news, Weather, Sports, Free Classifieds and Job Listings.
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