Which critical failure was increased when ancient Mesopotamian ziggurats were constructed on saturated clay soils without drainage provisions?

💡 Explanation

When ziggurats were built on saturated clay without drainage, soil consolidation led to differential settlement because the load was unevenly distributed, causing cracking and instability. Therefore, differential settlement occurred, rather than wind erosion, overheating, or chemical weathering, which involve different environmental factors and mechanisms.

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