Neolithic Plaster Predates Roman Technique

Why this is here: The team found more than 100 plaster floors at the Motza settlement, many coated with red pigment, indicating a widespread and intentional use of the material.

Researchers excavating Motza, Israel, discovered evidence of dolomitic plaster production roughly 8,000 years ago. Between 2015 and 2021, the team examined a Neolithic settlement west of Jerusalem and found over 100 well-preserved, red-pigmented plaster floors. They also identified kilns used to burn both limestone and dolomite for plaster making.

The people at Motza skillfully created separate kilns for each substance, showing they understood the different conditions needed for each plaster type. This discovery pushes back the earliest known use of dolomitic plaster by about 8,000 years, challenging the long-held belief that the Romans invented the technique.

The researchers note the Motza method produced a uniquely recrystallized plaster—a process previously thought impossible—and its origins remain unclear. While the technique may have been lost and independently rediscovered, evidence linking Motza to Roman plaster production is currently missing. Further investigation will continue to explore this ancient technology.