Glossary

Ancient History Glossary

Words you will meet while exploring ancient engineering and science.

The three tiers of honey-colored stone arches of the Pont du Gard crossing the Gardon river valley under a cloudy sky, with a gravel path in the foreground

The Pont du Gard spanning the Gardon river in southern France: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0

TermMeaning
BCE / CEBefore Common Era and Common Era, the same years as BC and AD.
ArchaeologyStudying the past through physical remains.
AqueductA channel or bridge carrying water by gravity.
AshlarFinely cut, squared stone blocks.
MortarPaste that binds stones or bricks; Inca and Great Zimbabwe walls used none.
MegalithA very large stone used in a monument.
SarsenA hard sandstone used for Stonehenge's big stones.
CuneiformWedge-shaped writing pressed into clay.
StylusA pointed tool for writing in clay or wax.
PapyrusAn Egyptian writing material made from a reed.
QanatAn underground tunnel that carries groundwater.
HypocaustRoman underfloor heating.
CaravanseraiA roadside inn for trading caravans.
GeoglyphA large design made on the ground.
MastabaA flat-topped Egyptian tomb structure.
SlagWaste left from smelting metal ore.
PozzolanaVolcanic ash used in Roman concrete.
Orchestra (Greek)The circular performance area of a theatre.
HelixA spiral shape, as in the Archimedes screw.
UNESCO World HeritageA list of places of outstanding value to humanity.
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Sources

Facts on this page were checked against these sources (updated Oct 12, 2026). Spot an error? Email hello@fireempireshop.com.

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