2. Evolution of corrosion problems

The Paestum Maritime Museum near Naples has one room dedicated to the 6th century B.C., and another to the 3rd century B.C. However, when it comes to the nailing techniques used on the wooden planks of the hull, all that can be seen in the former are large stumps of rust, which in this case are the remains of steel nails driven through a copper support washer, whereas in the latter both the washers and the intact nails are made of copper. So, while the Romans didn't know the reason for the corrosion or its...