Lime
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Gen 11:3, Deut 27:2, 4, Amos 2:1, Dan 5:5 and elsewhere) is obtained from limestone and chalk deposits, of which there is a great abundance everywhere, including in Palestine. As is known, all of Jerusalem stands upon hills of limestone formation. Lime has been known to men since the most ancient times. Mixed with sand it soon came to be preferred over all other mortars and cements, and already from the time of Moses it was used as a good building material for plastering the walls and ceilings of houses and temples. Testimony of this can be found in the citations given above.