मृत्तिका - Mr̥ttikā (Earth) | Inheritage Foundation Art & Architecture Thesaurus | Inheritage Foundation

Title	मृत्तिका - Mr̥ttikā (Earth) मृत्तिका Mr̥ttikā
Description	Mr̥ttikā (Earth) is used in construction as adobe or rammed earth. Composition varies by location, typically including clay minerals (kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite), silt, and sand. Stabilizers like straw or lime are often added. Used for walls and floors.
Tags	Earth Mud Soil Adobe Wattle and daub Kalaburagi मिट्टी Mittī Rammed Earth Vernacular Miṭṭī मृतिका Mritika Clay Ahom Plaster मृत्तिका Mrittika Mrittikā Laterite Tibet Rammed earth Erosion Mr̥ttikā
Material ID	`INHFMAT-529402534-20-11-25-MR`
URI	https://www.inheritage.foundation/aat/material/earth
API Endpoint	`https://inheritage.foundation/api/v1/aat/materials/earth`
Total Sites	1
Primary Sites	1
Created	November 20, 2025
Last Updated	November 20, 2025

Material Types

Types	Soil Unprocessed Material Unfired Clay Unprocessed Soil Earthen Material Rammed Earth Adobe Cob Clay Silt Sand Loam Adobe Bricks Mud Plaster Mud Brick

Regions

Regions	Rajasthan Gujarat Karnataka Pan-India Deccan Plateau Rural India Tamil Nadu Assam Bengal Maharashtra Tibet Himalayan Region Bihar Meghalaya Laterite regions of India Arid and Semi-Arid Regions Manipur

Historical Context

Time Periods	Ancient Times Medieval Period CE Ancient times Harappan Civilization (2600-1900 BCE) Pre-colonial Era Traditional Era Harappan Civilization Pre-historic periods Ahom Period (1228-1826) Indus Valley Civilization Pre-Colonial Era 15th Century CE onwards 16th-18th century CE 17th Century CE 13th century CE Yuan Dynasty 15th Century CE Traditional Construction Techniques Ancient Period Medieval Period
Dynasties	Maurya Gupta All Local rulers Village communities Indus Valley Civilization Ahom Dynasty Maurya Empire Gupta Empire Jaintia Kings Fifth Dalai Lama's Reign Sakya Dynasty

Time Periods

Ancient Times

Medieval Period CE

Ancient times

Harappan Civilization (2600-1900 BCE)

Pre-colonial Era

Traditional Era

Harappan Civilization

Pre-historic periods

Ahom Period (1228-1826)

Indus Valley Civilization

Pre-Colonial Era

15th Century CE onwards

16th-18th century CE

17th Century CE

13th century CE

Yuan Dynasty

15th Century CE

Traditional Construction Techniques

Ancient Period

Medieval Period

Dynasties

Maurya

Gupta

All

Local rulers

Village communities

Indus Valley Civilization

Ahom Dynasty

Maurya Empire

Gupta Empire

Jaintia Kings

Fifth Dalai Lama's Reign

Sakya Dynasty

Geographic Sources

Sources	Local soil deposits Riverbeds specific geographic sources Local soil deposits near Sivasagar Agricultural land Local riverbeds Agricultural fields Excavation sites Local soil deposits near Nartiang Local soil deposits near Lhasa Local soil deposits near Shigatse Local soil deposits near construction sites

Properties

Properties	Thermal conductivity: 0.2-0.8 W/mK Density: 1.5-1.8 g/cm³ Compressive strength: 0.5-2 MPa (unreinforced) Porosity: 30-50% Variable compressive strength (0.5-5 MPa) High porosity (30-50%) High water absorption Low thermal conductivity Compressive strength (adobe): 0.5-3 MPa Density: 1400-1800 kg/m³ Thermal conductivity: 0.3-0.8 W/mK High thermal mass Compressive strength: 0.5-2 MPa Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.5 W/mK Compressive strength: 0.5-3 MPa Variable composition Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.2 W/mK Density: 1400-1600 kg/m³ Shrinkage: 5-10% upon drying Compressive strength: 2-5 MPa (rammed earth) Density: 1800-2200 kg/m³ (rammed earth) Porosity: 20-40% Variable composition (clay, silt, sand) Low compressive strength (unreinforced) High shrinkage upon drying Density: 1.6-2.0 g/cm³ Compressive strength: 2-5 MPa Porosity: 20-30% Shrinkage: 5-15% Water absorption: 15-25% Compressive strength: 1-3 MPa Porosity: 30-40% Density: 1.4-1.6 g/cm³ Water absorption: High Density: 1.8-2.2 g/cm³ Compressive strength: 2-4 MPa (Rammed Earth) Density: 1.6-1.8 g/cm³ (Rammed Earth) Porosity: 25-45% Density: 1.8-2.2 g/cm³ (Rammed Earth) Shrinkage: 5-10% (upon drying) Density: 1.5-2.0 g/cm³ Compressive strength: 2-5 MPa (adobe) Thermal conductivity: 0.25-1.5 W/mK

Thermal conductivity: 0.2-0.8 W/mK

Density: 1.5-1.8 g/cm³

Compressive strength: 0.5-2 MPa (unreinforced)

Porosity: 30-50%

Variable compressive strength (0.5-5 MPa)

High porosity (30-50%)

High water absorption

Low thermal conductivity

Compressive strength (adobe): 0.5-3 MPa

Density: 1400-1800 kg/m³

Thermal conductivity: 0.3-0.8 W/mK

High thermal mass

Compressive strength: 0.5-2 MPa

Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.5 W/mK

Compressive strength: 0.5-3 MPa

Variable composition

Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.2 W/mK

Density: 1400-1600 kg/m³

Shrinkage: 5-10% upon drying

Compressive strength: 2-5 MPa (rammed earth)

Density: 1800-2200 kg/m³ (rammed earth)

Porosity: 20-40%

Variable composition (clay, silt, sand)

Low compressive strength (unreinforced)

High shrinkage upon drying

Density: 1.6-2.0 g/cm³

Compressive strength: 2-5 MPa

Porosity: 20-30%

Shrinkage: 5-15%

Water absorption: 15-25%

Compressive strength: 1-3 MPa

Porosity: 30-40%

Density: 1.4-1.6 g/cm³

Water absorption: High

Density: 1.8-2.2 g/cm³

Compressive strength: 2-4 MPa (Rammed Earth)

Density: 1.6-1.8 g/cm³ (Rammed Earth)

Porosity: 25-45%

Density: 1.8-2.2 g/cm³ (Rammed Earth)

Shrinkage: 5-10% (upon drying)

Density: 1.5-2.0 g/cm³

Compressive strength: 2-5 MPa (adobe)

Thermal conductivity: 0.25-1.5 W/mK

Common Uses

Uses	Wattle and daub walls Earthen floors Roofing material (with reinforcement) Adobe bricks Rammed earth walls Plastering (with additives) Foundation fill Adobe bricks for walls Plaster Roofing (with thatch) Earthen plasters Rammed earth foundations Mud bricks (कच्चा ईंट - Kaccā Īṇṭ) Flooring Mud plaster Wattle-and-daub walls Walls Floors Roofs Roofing (with reinforcement) Plaster base Plastering Roofing (as a substrate) Insulation Roofing (in some cases)

Uses

Wattle and daub walls

Earthen floors

Roofing material (with reinforcement)

Adobe bricks

Rammed earth walls

Plastering (with additives)

Foundation fill

Adobe bricks for walls

Plaster

Roofing (with thatch)

Earthen plasters

Rammed earth foundations

Mud bricks (कच्चा ईंट - Kaccā Īṇṭ)

Flooring

Mud plaster

Wattle-and-daub walls

Walls

Floors

Roofs

Roofing (with reinforcement)

Plaster base

Plastering

Roofing (as a substrate)

Insulation

Roofing (in some cases)

Related Materials

Materials	कच्चा ईंट - Kacchā Īnt (Unfired Brick) घास - Ghās (Grass) चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) भूसा - Bhūsā (Straw) चूना - Chunā (Lime) गोबर - Gobar (Cow Dung) Kāshtha (Wood) कच्चा ईंट - Kaccā Īṇṭ (Unfired Brick) गोमय - Gomaya (Cow Dung) Chunā (Lime Mortar) Straw भूसा - Bhusa (Straw) तृण - Trina (Straw) कषाय - Kashaya (Herbal Extracts)

Materials

कच्चा ईंट - Kacchā Īnt (Unfired Brick)

घास - Ghās (Grass)

चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar)

भूसा - Bhūsā (Straw)

चूना - Chunā (Lime)

गोबर - Gobar (Cow Dung)

Kāshtha (Wood)

कच्चा ईंट - Kaccā Īṇṭ (Unfired Brick)

गोमय - Gomaya (Cow Dung)

Chunā (Lime Mortar)

Straw

भूसा - Bhusa (Straw)

तृण - Trina (Straw)

कषाय - Kashaya (Herbal Extracts)

Related Styles

Styles	Vernacular architecture Rural architecture Vernacular architecture style Rural architecture style Ahom architecture Vernacular Architecture Tibetan Architecture Rural Architecture Tibetan Vernacular Architecture Tibetan Buddhist Architecture

Related Categories

Categories	Rural housing Fortifications (temporary) Residential Rural structures Residential Buildings Fortifications Boundary Walls House Wall Oven Rural Buildings Fortification Rural Structures Agricultural Structures Monastery Residential buildings Earthen structures Fort Domestic Architecture Palace Fortress Monastery Walls

Conservation Notes

Notes	Highly susceptible to erosion Requires regular maintenance Vulnerable to water damage Highly susceptible to erosion and water damage Requires regular maintenance and replastering Stabilization with lime or cement can improve durability Susceptible to erosion by rain and wind Vulnerable to seismic activity Highly susceptible to erosion by rain and wind Requires regular replastering Vulnerable to insect and rodent damage Susceptible to erosion Highly susceptible to erosion by water and wind Stabilization with lime or other additives is crucial for durability Susceptible to water erosion Requires stabilization with lime or other binders Cracking due to shrinkage Highly susceptible to erosion from rain and wind Vulnerable to seismic damage Stabilization with lime or cement may be necessary Water damage Requires regular replastering with mud plaster Stabilization with lime or plant fibers Susceptible to erosion from rain and wind Requires regular replastering with compatible mud mixtures Susceptible to erosion by water

Notes

Highly susceptible to erosion
Requires regular maintenance
Vulnerable to water damage
Highly susceptible to erosion and water damage
Requires regular maintenance and replastering
Stabilization with lime or cement can improve durability
Susceptible to erosion by rain and wind
Vulnerable to seismic activity
Highly susceptible to erosion by rain and wind
Requires regular replastering
Vulnerable to insect and rodent damage
Susceptible to erosion
Highly susceptible to erosion by water and wind
Stabilization with lime or other additives is crucial for durability
Susceptible to water erosion
Requires stabilization with lime or other binders
Cracking due to shrinkage
Highly susceptible to erosion from rain and wind
Vulnerable to seismic damage
Stabilization with lime or cement may be necessary
Water damage
Requires regular replastering with mud plaster
Stabilization with lime or plant fibers
Susceptible to erosion from rain and wind
Requires regular replastering with compatible mud mixtures
Susceptible to erosion by water

Recommended Sources

Title	Type	Notes
Earthen Architecture in India	Book	Construction techniques and conservation
Traditional Knowledge Digital Library	Database	Vernacular construction techniques
Ancient earthen architecture: a sustainable building material	Journal Article	Properties and conservation of earthen structures
Traditional Knowledge Digital Library	Database	Traditional building techniques
Appropriate Building Materials Advisory Group (ABMAG) Publications	Technical Report	Earth construction techniques
Traditional Building Techniques of Assam	Book	Earthen construction methods
Traditional Earth Building Techniques in India	Book	Detailed analysis of earth construction methods
Traditional Indian Building Techniques	Book	Earth construction methods
Appropriate Technology Journals	Journal Article	Earth construction techniques
Traditional Knowledge Systems of India	Book	Earthen construction techniques

Heritage Sites (1)

Site Name	Status	Usage	Confidence
Khongjom Fort Thoubal	Primary		100%