The word bitumen originates from Sanskrit and has been referred to as Bitumen in Latin and general English, while in American English it is commonly known as Asphalt. In Persian, the term qir historically refers to coal tar.
Bitumen has been used since ancient times, particularly during the eras of the Sumerians, Assyrians, and many early civilizations. It served as a waterproofing material and a protective substance in shipbuilding, mummification, sculpture, and decorative works. It was also used in the form of mastic (a mixture of bitumen and fired brick) in the construction of temples, bridge foundations, street surfaces, and residential buildings. Additionally, bitumen was applied for water storage in reservoirs, as a moisture barrier, and as a binding agent. The history of bitumen dates back more than 5,000 years, with documented evidence tracing it to approximately 3,800 years ago, during the Sumerian period.
Bitumen also played a vital role in ancient Iran, with a history exceeding 5,000 years. In the mid–third millennium BCE, the Elamite civilization around Susa utilized bitumen for various applications. The Achaemenid Empire employed bitumen for waterproofing in the construction of the magnificent Persepolis Palace, traces of which remain visible today.
The modern bitumen production industry dates back to 1712 AD, beginning with the discovery of natural asphalt rocks in France. At that time, bituminous materials were spread in lump form on local roads and gradually compacted through the passage of carts and carriages. Over time, the process evolved to include crushing and heating the material prior to compaction using heated iron rollers, leading to widespread use across European cities.
The use of bitumen in asphalt production began in the early 19th century, first applied to sidewalks in France in 1830. The first asphalt-paved street in the United States dates back to 1870. In Iran, asphalt was first used in 1933 to pave Palace Street (now Palestine Street). Today, bitumen has more than 250 applications across agriculture, construction, road building, and other industries.
Asphalt has become so commonplace in daily life—constantly beneath our feet—that its long history is often overlooked. The story of asphalt begins thousands of years ago in nature, with the formation of natural asphalt lakes and asphalt-bearing rocks. Asphalt is a black, sticky substance in liquid or semi-solid form derived from crude oil and is sometimes referred to as natural bitumen. It forms a fundamental component of road and street surfaces.
Asphalt
In ancient times, the people of Mesopotamia used asphalt to waterproof temple baths and water reservoirs. The Phoenicians applied it to seal the hulls of their commercial ships, while the ancient Egyptians used asphalt during the era of the pharaohs to prevent erosion along the banks of the Nile River.
625 BCE
The earliest recorded use of asphalt as a road-building material dates to this period. The ancient Greeks were familiar with asphalt, deriving the word from the Greek Asphaltos, meaning “secure” or “reliable.” The Romans used asphalt to waterproof baths, aqueducts, and water reservoirs.
1595
European explorers in the New World discovered natural asphalt deposits in the Americas. Sir Walter Raleigh described a vast asphalt lake on the island of Trinidad, near Venezuela, and used the material to repair the waterproofing of his ships.
Early 19th Century
Thomas Telford improved road construction techniques using crushed stone and built over 1,400 kilometers of roads in Scotland. Around the same time, John Loudon McAdam developed durable road surfaces using crushed stone. Later, hot bitumen was added to bind the aggregates together, reducing dust and increasing durability, giving rise to modern asphalt pavements.
1870
Belgian chemist Edmund J. DeSmedt constructed the first true asphalt-paved street in the United States. He also paved Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., using natural asphalt from Trinidad Lake. The Cummer Company established the first hot-mix asphalt plant, and the first asphalt patent was registered in New York in 1871.
1900
Frederick J. Warren patented Bitulithic pavement, a combination of natural bitumen and aggregate. In 1901, the Warren brothers founded the first modern asphalt company in Massachusetts.
1907
Asphalt produced from refined petroleum became more prevalent than natural asphalt. With the rapid growth of automobile use and increased demand for improved roads, new innovations in asphalt production and paving processes emerged, including mechanized paving methods.
1942
During World War II, asphalt technology advanced significantly to support heavy military vehicles and equipment.
1955
The National Bituminous Concrete Association was established in the United States, later renamed the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA). One of its earliest initiatives focused on asphalt quality improvement through university and private laboratory research.
1970s
The global energy crisis emphasized the importance of resource conservation, leading to widespread adoption of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP). Today, asphalt pavement is the most recycled material in countries such as the United States, with over 70 million tons reused annually.
200
Following extensive improvements in asphalt production and recycling practices, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) removed asphalt plants from the list of major hazardous air pollutant sources. شدهاند.