“The elm and the ash… when put in shape for use in buildings… are tough and having no stiffness… soon bend. But when they become dry with age, or are allowed to lose their sap… they get harder, and from their toughness supply a strong material for dowels to be used in joints and other articulations.”

—  Vitruvius, book De architectura

Source: De architectura (The Ten Books On Architecture) (~ 15BC), Book II, Chapter IX, Sec. 11

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Roman writer, architect and engineer -80–-15 BC

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