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How are ancient Roman and Mayan buildings still standing? Scientists are unlocking their secrets

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The residential gruup “Núñez Chinchilla” is located north of the great plaza of Copan, an ancient Maya site in western Honduras, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

In the quest to build better for the future, some are looking for answers in the long-ago past.

Ancient builders across the world created structures that are still standing today, thousands of years later — from Roman engineers who poured thick concrete sea barriers, to Maya masons who crafted plaster sculptures to their gods, to Chinese builders who raised walls against invaders.

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