Analysis of Byzantine mortars from the Negev Desert, Israel, and subsequent environmental and economic implications

Mortar of different types and compositions was widely known and used in the ancient world, and became widespread throughout the Roman and Byzantine Empires. In many cases lime was used in it as a binder and for better plasticity. This paper discusses two mortar samples from a building in the Negev Highlands, Israel, their analysis under scanning electron microscope (SEM) and with X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the environmental implications in terms of energy consumption in the production process of lime in the Byzantine period.