Ancient Roman Glue Sticks Around

Also from the article:

"Analysis shows that the Roman glue was made of bitumen, bark pitch and animal grease," Willer said.

So far, the German researchers have failed to recreate the Roman superglue.

"We think that some inorganic material such as soot, sand and quartz, might have been added to make the mixture stickier," Willer said.

There are some earlyer examples for mounting a flint tip on arrows or other shafts:

pitch from birch bark, charcoal mixture used to reinforce and glue winding of textile fibers.

RHABE

Centuries ago, a component of glue for fine musical instruments was blood.

It may well turn out that blood was added into the mix.....

Hi Sparkstation,

your suggestion is very likely as any protein on conversion from sol to gel is a good glue.

In WW2 the british plywood fighter aircraft were glued with caseine glue that was a beautiful solution if not some uninstructed maintenance people started to wash these with plenty of water.

Blood, milk, cheese, cartilage, fishglue and may be more are in use til today.

Also ancient concrete and mortar was reinforced with blood and milk.

The best quality is said to be the stuff made from the swimming bladder of the big fish that also is searched for caviar.

This glue is most used by restorators in restoring antiques especially paintings.

RHABE

Hi RHABE

You seem to be right about protein. When I was a kid, I would use water - wheat flour mix to construct paper kites. I have the impression that the protein glutene was doing the job. One can try with flour form different cereals than wheat (with much less glutene) to check how they compare.

I bet flour glue is not good for anything more than sticking pieces of paper together, but it shows that glue can sometimes be made of ordinary materials.

Still entirely on the subject, and often I think at my best in the wee hours: (It's 1:30am here)

Thinking laterally, I just wonder who discovered which actual Ancient Roman owned those "Glue Sticks", and what those "Glue Sticks" were actually placed around.

Perhaps we shall never find out......

Ladies and Gentlemen I remind you of this.............