Plaster-making technique attributed to Romans used at Motza some 8,000 years earlier, study shows
A recent study reveals that the plaster-making technique previously thought to be exclusive to Romans was actually used by residents of Motza around 8,000 years earlier. The Pre-Pottery Neolithic B inhabitants were able to distinguish between calcite and dolomite stones for their plaster production. This discovery sheds new light on the technological capabilities of ancient civilizations in the region.
- ▪The plaster-making technique was used by Neolithic residents of Motza.
- ▪This technique predates Roman usage by approximately 8,000 years.
- ▪The study highlights the ability of ancient peoples to differentiate between types of stones for practical applications.
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| Original publisher | The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com |
| Canonical URL | https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-897588 |
| Publication time | Fri, 29 May 2026 00:32:34 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-28T23:04:38.351Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-28T23:04:38.351Z |
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Plaster-making technique attributed to Romans used at Motza some 8,000 years earlier, study shows"The Pre-Pottery Neolithic B residents of Motza were surprisingly able to differentiate calcite and dolomite stones and used both in their plaster making," the study said.Follow us on GoogleA partial view of a settlement from the Neolithic Period (New Stone Age), discovered during archaeological excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority near Motza Junction, about 5 km west of Jerusalem, July 16, 2019; file photo.(photo credit: Gali Tibbon/AFP via Getty Images)
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