opera quadrata
An ancient stone wall, often constructed using local materials like Sarno limestone or Nocera tufa. The Romans in Pompeii used various local stones for construction, moving from earlier “pappamonte” walls to limestone using squared blocks (opera quadrata) for later fortifications. The small holes in the blocks are a distinctive feature of the city’s defensive walls, offering physical evidence of ancient military conflict. (Kremer, 2025) Photo from Pompeii, Italy, 2025.