description
US Department of Agriculture Farmer's bulletin 1500from 1937. "Earth has been used for building dwellings from time immemorial One method of use, superior to others, and was Known to the Romans [and Chinese] has preserved by tradition to moden times.This method consists of ramming slighltly moist, specially selected earth, without the addition of straw or other material, betwen movable forms, and is known by its French name, "pise de terre," which means "rammed earth."