What technique prevented erosion of the Roman road?

Question

There are three choices.
A.) Shallow centers
B.) Dranaige ditches
C.) High Curbs

My son has this difficult question on his take home test. It's giving me some trouble too. Some help would be great. Thanks.

Answer 1

actually it was lava dust. the lava dust strengthens the sement enabled the roads and other structures to last thousands of years. I guess with the multiple choice I would say the drainage ditches. The Romans were ahead of their time. they had irrigation unlike many other country, therefore they also had drainage systems which helps eleviate the roads from water erosion. I would double check the textbook that may have the answer. i am 99% positive it is b) draining ditches.

Answer 2

A. must be wrong, twice over, because firstly Roman roads didn't have "shallow centres", they were cambered - which means they were higher in the centre - and secondly, the camber was part of what prevented their erosion, so a shallow centre would have had the opposite effect.

C. is wrong because only some Roman roads had kerbs, when there was a plentiful supply of local stone for making them. Otherwise, they managed without.

B. is the answer because we find drainage ditches or their remains with every Roman road, and plenty of written evidence that the Romans knew how important these ditches were for the road to keep in good shape.