torban.
/ˈtɔːbə/ A primitive kind of cement made with broken pottery, traditionally used in Malta for the floors of buildings. Frequently attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > cement or mortar > [noun] > mixed with broken tiles or pottery
opus signinum1745
torba1910
1910 Ann. Rep. Valetta Mus. 1909–10 4 The original ‘torba’ floor existed at a depth of about 15 cms.
1923 M. A. Murray Excav. in Malta i. v. 33 The beaten-earth floor, known as torba, is made as follows: the pots are broken..or..pounded; [etc.].
1953 Proc. Prehistoric Soc. 19 43 They were found only on the lowest torba floor at Santa Verna and Kordin III.
1968 J. D. Evans in S. Rossiter Malta 13 Remains of huts..were found at Skorba... The floors were of beaten earth or torba (a plaster made of crushed limestone).
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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