स्थूण मृत्तिका - Sthuna Mrittikā (Rammed Earth) | Inheritage Foundation Art & Architecture Thesaurus | Inheritage Foundation

Title	स्थूण मृत्तिका - Sthuna Mrittikā (Rammed Earth) स्थूण मृत्तिका Sthuna Mrittikā
Description	Sthuna Mrittikā (Rammed Earth) is a construction technique involving compacting a mixture of earth, gravel, and sometimes stabilizers like lime or animal blood within a formwork. Density ranges from 1800-2200 kg/m³, providing good thermal mass.
Tags	कच्चा मिट्टी Kacchā Mittī Rammed Earth Earth Soil Compaction मृत्तिका Mrittikā Earth Construction Earthen Construction Mr̥ttikā Earthen construction मृत्तिकाभित्ति Mrittikābhitti Erosion संपीडित मृत्तिका Sampīḍit Mṛttikā Sampīḍita Mrittikā Compacted Soil Thermal Mass Sampīḍita Mṛttikā Clay मृदा Mṛdā Yamchun संपीडित मृदा Sampidit Mrida Sampīḍita Mṛdā Pisé Compacted Earth संहत Sanhata Rammed Compacted स्थूण मृत्तिका Sthuna Mrittikā
Material ID	`INHFMAT-553763149-20-11-25-ST`
URI	https://www.inheritage.foundation/aat/material/rammed-earth
API Endpoint	`https://inheritage.foundation/api/v1/aat/materials/rammed-earth`
Total Sites	1
Primary Sites	0
Created	November 20, 2025
Last Updated	November 20, 2025

Material Types

Types	Soil Composite Material Earthen Material Compacted Soil Earth

Regions

Regions	Rajasthan Gujarat Deccan Plateau Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region Uttar Pradesh Maharashtra Tamil Nadu Haryana Xinjiang Central Asia Tajikistan arid regions of Uzbekistan Tamil Nadu (arid regions)

Historical Context

Time Periods	Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1700 BCE) Early Historic Period 3rd century BCE Early Medieval Period Medieval Period CE Indus Valley Civilization Mauryan Period Mauryan Empire (322-185 BCE) Ancient Period Medieval Period 16th-19th century CE Ancient times Contemporary sustainable construction Contemporary
Dynasties	Maurya Shunga Mauryan Dynasty Gupta Dynasty Gupta Mauryan Chola Satavahana Local Tajik rulers Indus Valley Civilization Rajput Kingdoms Not typically associated with specific dynasties, but used in vernacular architecture Regional kingdoms in Rajasthan Local communities

Geographic Sources

Sources	Local soil deposits Alluvial plains Local soil deposits near Qala-i Khumb Riverbeds Local subsoil deposits Locally sourced soil Locally sourced subsoil Agricultural land Locally sourced soil deposits specific geographic sources Local soil deposits near Hisor Locally sourced earth and gravel deposits Local soil deposits near Yamchun Specific regional earth sources Specific earthwork sites Quarries for gravel

Sources

Local soil deposits

Alluvial plains

Local soil deposits near Qala-i Khumb

Riverbeds

Local subsoil deposits

Locally sourced soil

Locally sourced subsoil

Agricultural land

Locally sourced soil deposits

specific geographic sources

Local soil deposits near Hisor

Locally sourced earth and gravel deposits

Local soil deposits near Yamchun

Specific regional earth sources

Specific earthwork sites

Quarries for gravel

Properties

Properties	Dry Density: 1.8-2.2 g/cm³ Compressive Strength: 2-5 MPa Thermal Conductivity: 0.8-1.2 W/mK Porosity: 10-20% Compressive strength: 2-5 MPa Density: 1.8-2.2 g/cm³ Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.2 W/mK Porosity: 15-25% Density: 1800-2200 kg/m³ Compressive strength: 2-4 MPa Density: 1600-2200 kg/m³ Compressive strength: 2-10 MPa Thermal diffusivity: 0.4-0.6 mm²/s Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.5 W/mK Compressive strength: 2-10 MPa (depending on soil composition and compaction) Thermal mass: High Compressive Strength: 2-8 MPa Compressive strength: 2-7 MPa Compressive strength: 2-5 MPa (unstabilized), 5-15 MPa (stabilized)

Dry Density: 1.8-2.2 g/cm³

Compressive Strength: 2-5 MPa

Thermal Conductivity: 0.8-1.2 W/mK

Porosity: 10-20%

Compressive strength: 2-5 MPa

Density: 1.8-2.2 g/cm³

Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.2 W/mK

Porosity: 15-25%

Density: 1800-2200 kg/m³

Compressive strength: 2-4 MPa

Density: 1600-2200 kg/m³

Compressive strength: 2-10 MPa

Thermal diffusivity: 0.4-0.6 mm²/s

Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.5 W/mK

Compressive strength: 2-10 MPa (depending on soil composition and compaction)

Thermal mass: High

Compressive Strength: 2-8 MPa

Compressive strength: 2-7 MPa

Compressive strength: 2-5 MPa (unstabilized), 5-15 MPa (stabilized)

Common Uses

Uses	Load-bearing walls Foundation Protective barriers Walls Platforms Foundations (in some cases) Foundation platforms Protective embankments Flooring Wall infill Internal partitions Floor bases Earthen floors Foundation walls Protective bunds Enclosure walls Foundations Terraces Platform construction Protective layers Non-load-bearing walls Foundations (with proper drainage) Thermal mass walls Floors Retaining walls Foundation construction Thermal insulation Housing

Uses

Load-bearing walls

Foundation

Protective barriers

Walls

Platforms

Foundations (in some cases)

Foundation platforms

Protective embankments

Flooring

Wall infill

Internal partitions

Floor bases

Earthen floors

Foundation walls

Protective bunds

Enclosure walls

Foundations

Terraces

Platform construction

Protective layers

Non-load-bearing walls

Foundations (with proper drainage)

Thermal mass walls

Floors

Retaining walls

Foundation construction

Thermal insulation

Housing

Related Materials

Materials	गोमय - Gomaya (Cow Dung) चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) सुरखी - Surkhi (Brick Dust) काष्ठ - Kāshtha (Wood) चूना - Chunā (Lime) भूसा - Bhusa (Straw) Kāshtha (Wood) कंकड़ - Kankar (Lime Nodules) भूसा - Bhūsā (Straw) Chunā (Lime Mortar) Gomaya (Cow Dung) कषाय - Kashāya (Tannin) कषाय - Kashaya (Tannin) गाारा - Gāra (Mud Mortar) कषाय - Kashāya (Herbal Binders) स्थावर तन्तु - Sthāvara Tantu (Plant Fibers) Cement (modern applications) शण - Shana (Hemp) Bamboo

Materials

गोमय - Gomaya (Cow Dung)

चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar)

सुरखी - Surkhi (Brick Dust)

काष्ठ - Kāshtha (Wood)

चूना - Chunā (Lime)

भूसा - Bhusa (Straw)

Kāshtha (Wood)

कंकड़ - Kankar (Lime Nodules)

भूसा - Bhūsā (Straw)

Chunā (Lime Mortar)

Gomaya (Cow Dung)

कषाय - Kashāya (Tannin)

कषाय - Kashaya (Tannin)

गाारा - Gāra (Mud Mortar)

कषाय - Kashāya (Herbal Binders)

स्थावर तन्तु - Sthāvara Tantu (Plant Fibers)

Cement (modern applications)

शण - Shana (Hemp)

Bamboo

Related Styles

Styles	Vernacular architecture style Rural architecture style Vernacular architecture Early Buddhist architecture Rural architecture Desert architecture Sustainable building practices Sustainable architecture Rural construction

Related Categories

Categories	Residential buildings Fortifications Earthen structures Temple Fort Monastery Stupa Fortification Stupas Residential structures Palace Agricultural structures Residential Buildings Agricultural Structures Fortifications (in some regions) Rural structures Boundary walls

Conservation Notes

Notes	Susceptible to erosion Requires protection from water damage Stabilization with lime or plant fibers Susceptible to erosion from water damage Requires protection from rising damp Stabilization with lime or plant fibers may be necessary Susceptible to erosion by water and wind Requires regular maintenance and replastering Use of breathable plasters is essential Susceptible to erosion by water Requires protective coatings Needs regular maintenance to prevent cracking Requires regular maintenance Vulnerable to water damage Use breathable renders for repair Needs protection from water damage Use of breathable renders Susceptible to water erosion Vulnerable to seismic activity Requires regular maintenance and protective coatings Use of breathable stabilizers like lime is recommended Erosion control measures are crucial Breathable renders are essential Requires protective coatings or overhangs Stabilization with lime or plant fibers is crucial Cracking due to settlement Susceptible to erosion at the base Requires protective plinth and overhangs Stabilization with lime or plant extracts Stabilization with lime or cement Requires surface stabilization with clay plaster Requires protection from water Prone to cracking Susceptible to erosion at the base if not protected from moisture Requires a breathable surface treatment Proper drainage is essential to prevent water damage Vulnerable to seismic activity without reinforcement Maintenance of surface coatings Requires a protective plinth Maintenance involves patching cracks with similar earth mixture

Notes

Susceptible to erosion
Requires protection from water damage
Stabilization with lime or plant fibers
Susceptible to erosion from water damage
Requires protection from rising damp
Stabilization with lime or plant fibers may be necessary
Susceptible to erosion by water and wind
Requires regular maintenance and replastering
Use of breathable plasters is essential
Susceptible to erosion by water
Requires protective coatings
Needs regular maintenance to prevent cracking
Requires regular maintenance
Vulnerable to water damage
Use breathable renders for repair
Needs protection from water damage
Use of breathable renders
Susceptible to water erosion
Vulnerable to seismic activity
Requires regular maintenance and protective coatings
Use of breathable stabilizers like lime is recommended
Erosion control measures are crucial
Breathable renders are essential
Requires protective coatings or overhangs
Stabilization with lime or plant fibers is crucial
Cracking due to settlement
Susceptible to erosion at the base
Requires protective plinth and overhangs
Stabilization with lime or plant extracts
Stabilization with lime or cement
Requires surface stabilization with clay plaster
Requires protection from water
Prone to cracking
Susceptible to erosion at the base if not protected from moisture
Requires a breathable surface treatment
Proper drainage is essential to prevent water damage
Vulnerable to seismic activity without reinforcement
Maintenance of surface coatings
Requires a protective plinth
Maintenance involves patching cracks with similar earth mixture

Recommended Sources

Title	Type	Notes
Rammed Earth Construction: A Primer	Technical Guide	Techniques and best practices for rammed earth construction
Ancient Indian Building Materials and Techniques	Book	Rammed Earth analysis
Ancient Indian Building Materials and Technology	Book	Rammed earth construction techniques
Ancient Indian Building Technology	Book	Rammed earth construction techniques
Ancient Indian Building Materials	Book	Composition and properties
Earthen Architecture in India	Book	Details on rammed earth construction
Ancient Indian Building Technology	Book	Rammed earth construction techniques
Ancient Indian Building Materials and Techniques	Book	Chapter on earthen construction
Ancient Indian Building Technology	Book	Rammed earth construction techniques
Ancient Indian Building Materials and Techniques	Book	Details on rammed earth construction
Traditional Indian Building Techniques	Book	Chapter on rammed earth construction
Rammed Earth Construction: A Primer	Book	Technical guide to rammed earth construction
Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture	Book	Technical details on rammed earth construction
Rammed Earth Construction: A Global Perspective	Book	Techniques and case studies of rammed earth construction
Rammed Earth Construction Handbook	Book	Technical guidelines
Rammed Earth Construction in India	Technical Report	Techniques and case studies

Heritage Sites (1)

Site Name	Status	Usage	Confidence
Khonaqo-i Khisht Teppa Danghara Tajikistan	Secondary		100%