Asphalt ⚡ High Speed

: Builders moved from natural pits to refined petroleum asphalt, a byproduct of oil production that was more consistent and easier to transport.

The story of asphalt is one of transformation—from a rare natural resource found in ancient pits to the literal foundation of modern global travel. The Ancient Origins asphalt

Modern asphalt began with two Scottish engineers in the early 19th century: : Builders moved from natural pits to refined

For thousands of years, asphalt was a "miracle" substance found naturally in places like and the Dead Sea . : Later builders realized that adding hot tar

: Later builders realized that adding hot tar to these stones reduced dust and wear, creating "tarmacadam" (tarmac).

Asphalt is now one of the most recycled materials in the world. Old roads are ground up, reheated, and laid down again as "Recycled Asphalt Pavement" (RAP), making the "story" of a single piece of road one that can repeat for decades. One Bumpy Ride: The Evolution of Asphalt | by Ernie Smith

: In 1870, Belgian chemist Edmund J. DeSmedt laid the first true asphalt pavement in the U.S. in Newark, New Jersey. The Modern Era