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Ancient Arles' Secret Water Management Deciphered!
In a current study, researchers from Mainz are investigating the ancient water supply systems of Arles and their history.
Ancient Arles' Secret Water Management Deciphered!
Researchers from Mainz, Oxford and Innsbruck have uncovered the history of the impressive Arles aqueduct system in an exciting study. The results of this comprehensive study, published in the specialist journalGeoarchaeologywere published, provide exciting insights into the city's ancient water management. As uibk.ac.at reports, high-resolution isotope measurements on limestone crusts were the key to deciphering this ancient infrastructure.
By analyzing limescale deposits in aqueducts, basins and lead pipes, scientists were able to track the use of water pipe systems over several centuries. These carbonate archives are crucial to reconstructing the water supply history of Arles. It turns out that the Roman aqueduct was rebuilt and continually maintained over the centuries. From 3 BC In 200 BC an aqueduct from the southern flank of the Alpilles ensured that the city was supplied with water. Almost a century later, another aqueduct was added from the north side.
Technological masterpiece of antiquity
What exactly made ancient engineers so successful? As science-online.org points out, the northern aqueduct was an important addition that could be identified through architectural remains. What is particularly fascinating is that the southern aqueduct was diverted to supply a powerful watermill complex at Barbegal. This strategic move shows how flexible and adaptable ancient water management was.
The large basin, which originally served as a collecting basin in front of an aqueduct-arcade bridge, was essential for the city's water supply. In the early 4th century AD, the aqueduct received a major restoration on the orders of Emperor Constantine. For this purpose, carbonates from the water pipe were used to build the roof of the Baths of Constantine. This thermal bath was a popular meeting place for Roman society in Arles.
Insights into the remains of antiquity
The very stable oxygen and carbon isotopes that were analyzed help researchers determine the deposition periods and show that the aqueduct was in operation until the 5th century AD. In addition, lead pipes that ran through the Rhône riverbed transported the valuable water to the city. The scientific data shows that the deposits in these lead pipes have an almost identical isotopic composition as the aqueducts, highlighting the close connection of the various water supply systems in the region.
Overall, the study offers a fascinating look into the technology and engineering skills of the Romans in Arles. The fact that the water supply was so complex and well thought out makes the hearts of history and archeology fans beat faster. For further information on the results of the study and the research methods, take a look at the publications at uibk.ac.at, science-online.org and archaeologie-der-zukunft.de.