An intact slave's room found in Pompeii's ruins

Re:An intact slave's room found in Pompeii's ruins by iasmseanyoung on Saturday November 06, 2021 @01:52PM (#29132280)

Roman plasterwork was applied in layers, and in first layer (which is quite rough) a diamond pattern is scratched. This is to increase the adhesion of the next layer (also known as the key). This is also true of lime plasterwork done through the ages.

As far as I can see only the first layer with the diamond pattern is visible one the left wall. The other layers may have not survived. Why would you bother to create a diamond pattern if you're not going to put more layers on?

In fact, the wall at the far end does show more layers, and also some decoration right in the the middle.

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Re:An intact slave's room found in Pompeii's ruins by Tronno on Saturday November 06, 2021 @08:38PM (#29135284)

> Roman plasterwork was applied in layers, and in first layer (which is quite rough) a diamond pattern is scratched.

I don't think that's correct. I'm pretty sure the pictures actually depict opus reticulatum, which is a style of brick-lined cement work.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_reticulatum

I'd be happy to be proven wrong though.

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Re:An intact slave's room found in Pompeii's ruins by _jal on Saturday November 06, 2021 @03:20PM (#29133036)

Probably for the same reason you sometimes see unfinished drywall in basements and attics.

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Re:An intact slave's room found in Pompeii's ruins by supperburg on Saturday November 06, 2021 @02:01PM (#29132342)

Because different stages could have been handled by different teams or contractors.

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