Natural Cement in Portugal: Context in Cement Production and Architectural Use

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In the introduction of the paper you  report that, about natural cement you will discuss the cases studies of  Teatro Nacional de São João (TNSJ) and  Mercado do Bolhão (Porto). Actually, this in-depth study is almost absent, and it would be interesting to examine these two buildings in more detail, illustrating, also by means of detailed images, the architectural elements in which natural cement was actually used and how these artefacts behaved against the action of atmospheric agents

 

Line 97:  you should report reference [15] as all the other references. Otherwise all the references with number in the text

Line 445: you should report reference [19] as all the other references. Otherwise all the references with number in the text

Author Response

In the introduction of the paper you  report that, about natural cement you will discuss the cases studies of  Teatro Nacional de São João (TNSJ) and  Mercado do Bolhão (Porto). Actually, this in-depth study is almost absent, and it would be interesting to examine these two buildings in more detail, illustrating, also by means of detailed images, the architectural elements in which natural cement was actually used and how these artefacts behaved against the action of atmospheric agents. 

This was removed from the introduction as the discussion is extensive and would be more fit for a distinct kind of paper.

 

Line 97:  you should report reference [15] as all the other references. Otherwise all the references with number in the text - corrected

Line 445: you should report reference [19] as all the other references. Otherwise all the references with number in the text -corrected

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper addresses a very interesting and current topic in the cultural debate. The proposed research appears well structured in the sequence of the paper and proposes two interesting case studies, both in Porto.

The latter could be described in more detail (especially with reference to the construction and conservation phases). However, observations on durability and contemporary conservation and restoration interventions are limited and not adequately in-depth.

The choice to name ancient Roman concrete - as traditionally defined in the literature on the topic - as "cement" is not clarified. The absence of references to Vitruvius' indications is quite surprising as is the failure to cite now classic scholars of the subject, e.g. Jean-Pierre Adam. The bibliographical references are precise but refer to too local/national a scope, while the studies on the topic are broad and international.

Finally, I would like to point out some formatting problems: double spaces are recurring (lines 49, 93, 96, 141, 161, 217, 219, 284, 324).

Comments on the Quality of English Language

No further comments.

Author Response

The paper addresses a very interesting and current topic in the cultural debate. The proposed research appears well structured in the sequence of the paper and proposes two interesting case studies, both in Porto.The latter could be described in more detail (especially with reference to the construction and conservation phases). However, observations on durability and contemporary conservation and restoration interventions are limited and not adequately in-depth.

This paper attempts to address the issue of early cement production in a border sense, and the exemples in Porto are merely illustrative. Other papers were produced with a deeper insight into the chemistry and intervention scopes involving these examples. A lower focus on these examples was redone in the paper.

The choice to name ancient Roman concrete - as traditionally defined in the literature on the topic - as "cement" is not clarified. The absence of references to Vitruvius' indications is quite surprising as is the failure to cite now classic scholars of the subject, e.g. Jean-Pierre Adam. The bibliographical references are precise but refer to too local/national a scope, while the studies on the topic are broad and international.

These references were included.

Finally, I would like to point out some formatting problems: double spaces are recurring (lines 49, 93, 96, 141, 161, 217, 219, 284, 324). This was corrected