Terrazzo is a composite material poured in place or precast, which is used for floor and wall treatments. It consists of marble, granite or other suitable chippings (habitually marble) of stone mixed with cement. Due to its high resistance and low cost, it was the most popular finishing material used in interior floors. The Terrazzo floor was first introduced in Venice in the middle of the XV century, as a low cost flooring material using marble chips from upscale jobs. The word terrazzo derives from the Italian word "Terrazza" - in turn it is derived from the Latin "terracĕus" terra (ground), The workers would usually set them in clay to surface the patios around their living quarters. Consisting originally of marble chips, clay and goat milk (as the sealer),subsequently these pavements were polished to give a more comfortable surface. Finally workers discovered that adding goats milk acted as a sealant and preserved the wet and marble-like look.