stokarRomanRoads

Stokar Aqueducts  AugustusCaesar Colosseum

Roman Roads If you ever got dropped off in Ancient Rome you would want to know how Roman Roads were used and how they were built. So here is some Roman Road information. Standard Roman roads consisted of a metallic surface (gravel or pebbles) on a solid foundation of earth or stones. Where ever roads were possible to build they were built in the straightest line possible, avoiding major obstacles. First, two parallel trenches were built on either side of the planned road with the result of earthquakes, stones, etc. Agger could be up to 6 ft. high and 50 ft. wide. The diggers would make a shallow 8 to 10 foot wide down the length of the agger. Later, roads may have used Roman volcanic concrete to mix the entire mixture together making the whole structure more solid. Bridle paths were then dug and smoothed, leaving the earth unpaved for horse travel. During the construction forest and obstacles on either side of the road, which could be cleared to a considerable distance, to guard ambush attempts.