Mudbrick was used for the outer contruction of Sumerian ziggurats — some of the world's largest and oldest constructions. Choqa Zanbil, a 13th century BC, Elamite, ziggurat in Iran is similarly constructed from unfired clay bricks.

A Mudbrick is an unfired brick made of clay. Choghazanbil Ziggurat, Iran. ... Choghazanbil Ziggurat, Iran. ... The Sumerians generally built structures using mud brick. ... Dur-Untash, or Choqa zanbil, built in 13th century BC by Untash Napirisha, is one of the worlds best preserved ziggurats. ... A model of the current Chogha Zanbil ziggurat, showing the other buildings in the vicinity of the main structure. ... Elam (Persian: ایلام) is one of the most ancient civilizations on record. ... Dur-Untash, or Choqa zanbil, built in 13th century BC by Untash Napirisha, is one of the worlds best preserved ziggurats. ... A weathered brick wall. ... Quaternary clay in Estonia. ...

In warm regions with little timber available to fuel a kiln, bricks were generally sun dried. This had the result that their useful lifespan is reduced to around thirty years. Once a building collapsed, new bricks would have to be made and the new structure rebuilt on top of the rubble of the decayed old brick. This phenomenon is the primary factor behind the mounds or tells on which many ancient cities stand. Charcoal Kilns, California Gold Kiln, Victoria, Australia Hop kiln. ... See also Tell (poker). ...

The earliest use of mudbricks was in the Near East during the Pre-pottery Neolithic B period. The Sumerians used plano-convex mudbrick. Some bricks were formed in a square mould and rounded so that the middle was thicker than the ends. The Near East is a term commonly used by archaeologists and historians, less commonly by journalists and commentators, to refer to the region encompassing the Levant (modern Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon), Asia Minor (modern Turkey), Mesopotamia (Iraq and eastern Syria), and the Iranian Plateau (Iran, Afghanistan and western... It has been suggested that Edubba be merged into this article or section. ... A plano-convex object is flat or planar on one side and rounded on the other, such that the center is thicker than the edges. ... Moldy cream cheese Molds (British English: moulds) are various fungi that cover surfaces as fluffy mycelium and usually produce masses of asexual, sometimes sexual spores. ...

Adobe is a common substitute for the word mudbrick. Renewal of the surface coating of an adobe wall in Chamisal, New Mexico Adobe is a building material composed of water, sandy clay and straw or other organic materials, which is shaped into bricks using wooden frames and dried in the sun . ...

Mudbrick is still used today, as seen here in the Danube Delta Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1712, 1078 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Adobe Mudbrick ...

Mud clay and straw are mixed and pressed into moulds Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1712, 1236 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Adobe Mudbrick ...

When filled the mould is moved on step to make the next brick ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1712, 1209 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Adobe Mudbrick ...

The rows of bricks are left to dry in the sun Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1712, 1400 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Adobe Mudbrick ...

External links

• Earth Architecture - A website whose focus is contemporary issues in earth architecture.

also used today to save energy and is an environmentally safe way to insolate a house.