pompeii (and rome) water supply systems

Transcription

POMPEII
(AND ROME)
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
REPORT OF FIELD OBSERVATIONS (OCTOBER 2010)
JUNE 2011
i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This report was prepared by Wayne Lorenz with a detailed review by Erik Baros and Meisha
Hunter. The final draft was assembled by Nicole Chancey. Photographs in this report were
taken by Wayne Lorenz and Erik Baros. The maps shown in Figures 11 and 18 were prepared
by Erik Baros.
The Project Team would like to thank Ken Wright, Wright Paleohydrological Institute, and Wright
Water Engineers, Inc. for support and encouragement during the study of Roman aqueducts in
the Pompeii and Rome Regions.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
Page
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................3
2.0
INTERVIEWS WITH EXPERTS.......................................................................................5
1.1
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
3.0
Giuseppe Illiano .................................................................................................................. 5
Raffaella Bosso ................................................................................................................... 5
Luigi Sorrentino and Marilena Noppi................................................................................... 5
Giovanni De Feo and Sabino De Gisi ................................................................................. 6
Pasquale Maiella and Public Works Staff at Avella ............................................................ 7
Paolo Iandolo ...................................................................................................................... 8
Direttore Varrone................................................................................................................. 8
Dr. Anna Maria Sodo........................................................................................................... 9
Professore Mattia Crespi .................................................................................................... 9
SITES VISITED AND MAJOR OBSERVATIONS ...........................................................9
3.1
3.2
3.3
4.0
5.0
Authorization – Superintendant of Archaeology ................................................................. 4
City of Pompeii .................................................................................................................. 10
3.1.1
Castellum Aquae ............................................................................................ 10
3.1.2
House of the Hanging Balcony ....................................................................... 13
3.1.3
Pompeii Wells ................................................................................................. 17
Pompeii Region ................................................................................................................. 18
3.2.1
Tirone – Serino ............................................................................................... 19
3.2.2
Muro d’Arce..................................................................................................... 21
3.2.3
Acquaro-Pelosi and Urciuoli Springs .............................................................. 22
3.2.4
Avella Springs and the Roman Aqueduct Bridge ........................................... 24
3.2.5
Roccarainaolla Qanats ................................................................................... 25
Rome Region .................................................................................................................... 26
3.3.1
Traiana Aqueduct at the American Academy in Rome................................... 26
3.3.2
Source Springs and Aqueduct Section – Aqua Claudia and Marcia .............. 27
3.3.3
Source Springs – Virgo ................................................................................... 27
FUTURE STUDY AND ACTION PLAN .........................................................................28
REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................30
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TABLES
Table 1 Water Quality of the Acquaro-Pelosi Springs Compared to Barbegal Springs .............................. 23
FIGURES
Figure 1. The October 2010 Pompeii Field Trip Team in the Anio River Watershed. From left: Gail Lorenz,
Wayne Lorenz, Erik Baros, and Meisha Hunter. ....................................................................... 2
Figure 2. Gruppo Archeologico Avellano – Terra di Palma. From left: Luigi Sorrentino, Wayne Lorenz,
Gail Lorenz, Meisha Hunter, Marilena Noppi, and Erik Baros. .................................................. 6
Figure 3. Castellum Aquae at Pompeii. Three Major Supply Pipelines Exited Building at Lower Part of
Wall. ......................................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 4. Aqueduct Outlet to the Castellum with Meisha Hunter. ............................................................... 12
Figure 5. House of the Hanging Balcony with Support Scaffolding. ........................................................... 13
Figure 6. Water Tower Serving the House of the Hanging Balcony. .......................................................... 14
Figure 7. Following the Piping into the House of the Hanging Balcony. ..................................................... 15
Figure 8. Piping Manifold with Valves – House of the Hanging Balcony. ................................................... 16
Figure 9. Survey at the House of the Hanging Balcony. ............................................................................. 16
Figure 10. Pompeii Well Structure Located Behind a Public Fountain. ...................................................... 18
Figure 11. Schematic Layout of the Serino (Augustan) Aqueduct. (From DeFeo) ..................................... 19
Figure 12. Serino Aqueduct (Looking Westerly) at Tirone Showing the South Channel (323 A.D.) on the
Left and North (Old) Channel on the Right. ............................................................................. 20
Figure 13. Southern Aqueduct Dimensions. Built by Constantine in 323 A.D. ........................................... 21
Figure 14. Acquaro-Pelosi Springs – Round Spring House Showing Water Cascading From Infiltration
Galleries to Clearwell. .............................................................................................................. 23
Figure 15. Roman Aqueduct Bridge at Avella. ............................................................................................ 25
Figure 16. Inside the Triania Aqueduct underneath the American Academy of Rome. ............................. 26
Figure 17. Current Day Water Tower at the Site of the Groundwater Spring Used for the Ancient Virgo
Aqueduct that Served Rome. .................................................................................................. 28
Figure 18. Route of Avella and Serino (Augustus) Aqueducts. ................................................................. 29
APPENDIX
A
Authorization Letters dated September 19, 2010 and October 25, 2010 from the Superintendant
of Archaeology at Pompeii
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October 2010 Field Trip – Research Sites and Aqueduct Alignment
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REPORT OF FIELD INVESTIGATIONS – POMPEII, ITALY
(AND ROME) OCTOBER 2010
In October, 2010, the Wright Paleohydrological Institute, Inc. (WPI) conducted field studies in
Italy of water systems associated with the ancient site of Pompeii. This trip to Pompeii was the
initial field visit to the area by WPI with the major purposes of reconnaissance and initial field
measurements of study areas. The team also visited Rome and several major aqueduct sites in
the areas surrounding Rome.
The field team consisted of the following people (the team photograph is Figure 1):
Wayne Lorenz – Director of Roman Aqueduct Research for WPI. Wayne is manager of
the Pompeii research.
Gail Lorenz – Logistics and energy maintenance assistant.
Erik Baros – GIS and GPS specialist formerly with Wright Water Engineers, Inc. and
now with Geospatial Consultants. Erik was invited to be on the field team to address the
GIS aspects of the alignment of the Pompeii Branch and the Serino Aqueducts.
Meisha Hunter – Historical preservation specialist with Li/Saltzman Architects in New
York City. Meisha speaks fluent Italian, studied the Virgo Aqueduct at the American
Academy in Rome, and has contacts in the Rome area.
The purpose of this report is to document the field activities and interviews conducted during the
October, 2010 field study. The dates and general locations of this study were: October 20 to 22
in Rome; October 23 to 25 in Pompeii and the surrounding region; October 26 at University of
Salerno, Avella, and Pompeii; October 27 Avella and Pompeii; October 28 Serino Springs and
Avella.
This report represents only a portion of the field measurements that were conducted on aqueduct
sections and within the City of Pompeii. Further study of the information that was gathered will
be carried out. The results of these further studies will be presented in separate, more detailed,
publications.
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Wright Paleohydrological Institute, Inc.
Page 1
Report of Field Investigations – Pompeii, Italy
(and Rome) October 2010
Figure 1. The October 2010 Pompeii Field Trip Team in the Anio River Watershed. From left: Gail Lorenz,
Wayne Lorenz, Erik Baros, and Meisha Hunter.
There are many highlights of this field visit and much new information obtained.
These
highlights include:
•
Field surveys and detailed measurements of the water supply serving a house in the City
of Pompeii, the House of the Hanging Balcony (Casa Balcone de Pensile).
•
A meeting and discussion with Giovanni De Feo and Sabino De Gisi, leading researchers
on the Serino Aqueduct and professors at the University of Salerno.
•
A field visit to the Acquaro, Pelosi, and the Urciuoli Springs. These springs are the
sources of water for the Serino Aqueduct and were used to obtain modern water quality
data of the spring water.
•
Visits to the Avella Springs area and meeting with the Town Public Works staff to
understand the ancient use of the springs. The WPI Project Team members were the first
foreigners to visit the Sambuco Spring, near Avella.
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•
Obtained measurements of several Avella and Serino Aqueducts remnants: Tirone, Muro
D’Arce, and the Fontenelle Valley north of Avella.
•
Toured the Anio River Valley and the sources of water for several of the great aqueducts
near Rome.
1.0
INTRODUCTION
The Ancient Romans were not the first to build an urban settlement at the site of Pompeii. From
at least the 6th Century, the Greeks, Etruscans, Samnites, and then Romans used this strategic site
for urban development. It is somewhat hard to visualize today, but Pompeii was essentially a
harbor town situated on the River Sarno in the fertile area of Campania. The Greek geographer,
Strabo, claimed that Pompeii served as a port for Nola, Nuceria, and Acherrae (Berry, 2007).
After the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D., the area surrounding Pompeii was significantly
changed. This included the relocation of the Sarno River to the south of Pompeii.
The long archaeological history and the changes in geography came into focus during our field
visit. There are many archaeological sites that have significance regarding water supply and
transport. The important water structures were no doubt used and restored (many times over) by
earlier peoples, the Romans (both pre- and post-eruption), and by later and more modern
civilizations.
This is almost always the case with the study of Roman aqueducts and a
fascinating element that can be studied in detail to weave a story of design and
construction/reconstruction.
The unique aspect of Pompeii, the change in the landscape due to the 79 A.D. eruption, really
only factors in to the investigation of the alignment of aqueducts within a proximity of 5 to 10
kilometers from Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii.
Water supplies that were used in Pompeii are well documented. It is known that the groundwater
supply was used by the city inhabitants and there are many existing well structures located
within Pompeii for providing water from the supply. Rainwater and roof runoff were also water
supplies that were collected on a household basis. Many of the individual houses in Pompeii
have compluviums (i.e., gutters and holes in the roof) and impluviums (i.e., cisterns) that were
used to collect rainwater. The Sarno River may have also been a source of water, since it was
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fed by the Sarno Springs which are located within 13 kilometers (8 miles) northeast of Pompeii.
Finally, aqueducts were used to bring spring water from the nearby Apennine Mountains.
Although it is known that aqueducts were used to bring water to Roman Pompeii, there are some
historical aspects of the aqueducts that are uncertain.
The great Serino Aqueduct was
constructed between 12 and 6 B.C.; during the Augustan Age. Therefore, the Serino Aqueduct is
often referred to as the Augustan Aqueduct. It is reported that a branch of the Serino serviced
Pompeii until at least 62 A.D. and may have serviced Pompeii until the eruption in 79 A.D.
Prior to the construction of the Serino, there was an aqueduct and source that serviced Pompeii.
The water source and aqueduct of this earlier Pompeii branch has been the subject of more recent
studies (Ohlig, 2001). We are calling this earlier aqueduct the Avella Aqueduct. The water
source and alignment of this earlier Pompeii branch were of interest to the Project Team during
this site visit.
A major water engineering feature of Pompeii is the distribution system that was constructed to
deliver the aqueduct water to the city’s inhabitants. Prior to the site visit, the Project Team
performed research to identify one dwelling that used aqueduct water for specific study. The
House of the Hanging Balcony was selected, since it is one of the only dwellings in Pompeii
where the lead piping still exists in the house and the piping can be traced back to one of the
nearby water distribution towers.
1.1
Authorization – Superintendant of Archaeology
WPI requested permission from the Superintendant of Archaeology at Pompeii, to study the
water handling system within the city, visit and take measurements of the old Serino Aqueduct
outside of the city, and take GPS measurements.
In August, 2010, WPI received an
Authorization Letter from the Superintendant to perform these studies. The Authorization Letter
is included in Appendix A. The authorization was for the month of October, 2010.
Once the Project Team arrived in Pompeii, it was made known that the Superintendent that
signed the WPI Authorization Letter (Prof. Giuseppe Projetti) had been replaced and the
authorization to study in the City was no longer valid.
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On October 25, 2010, after meetings with the Pompeii Administrative staff (Assistant
Superintendant Varrone) at the site, the team received reauthorization for study and access to
specific areas in Pompeii. The reauthorization was signed by the new Superintendent, Jeannette
Papadopoulos. The authorization for access specifically addressed the House of the Hanging
Balcony. This second Authorization Letter is also included in Appendix A.
2.0
INTERVIEWS WITH EXPERTS
The visits and interviews with Pompeii experts regarding hydraulics and aqueducts were
highlights of the October 2010 studies. We also conducted several interviews of experts that
were located in Rome.
The following sections describe each interview in detail and the
highlights of these discussions.
2.1
Giuseppe Illiano
Prior to our trip, we contacted the Italian Institute in Denver to assist us in finding a guide
located in the Pompeii area for our fieldwork. Mr. Giuseppe Illiano was our guide for three days
while we were in the Pompeii area.
Giuseppe speaks excellent English, made some very
important appointments for us, and was a tireless worker. He has a degree in Foreigners and
Modern Literatures Languages from the Istituto Universitaro Oreientale in Naples. For this trip,
Giuseppe arranged our appointments with Raffaella Bosso, people from the Gruppo
Archeologico Avellano, Public Works staff at the Town of Avella, and engineers at A.R.I.N. at
the Acquaro, Pelosi, and Urciuoli Springs.
2.2
Raffaella Bosso
We met Ms. Bosso in the ancient City of Pompeii where she provided technical background on
some of the water systems in the city. Ms. Bosso has an advanced degree in Archaeology from
the University of Naples. She is currently researching the possible existence of one of the lead
water storage tanks that stood atop one of the water towers in Pompeii.
2.3
Luigi Sorrentino and Marilena Noppi
Mr. Sorrentino and Ms. Noppi represent the Gruppo Archeologico Avellano – Terra di Palma.
We met Mr. Sorrentino and Ms. Noppi at the Serino Aqueduct archaeological site at Tirone and
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Muro d’Arce. Mr. Sorrentino is an engineer and has written a book on archaeology in the Palma
area. Mr. Sorrentino presented us with a complimentary copy of his book during our visit
(Antichita’a Palma Campania). Mr. Sorrentino, Ms. Noppi, Mr. Illiano, and the Project Team
are shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Gruppo Archeologico Avellano – Terra di Palma. From left: Luigi Sorrentino, Wayne Lorenz,
Gail Lorenz, Meisha Hunter, Marilena Noppi, and Erik Baros.
2.4
Giovanni De Feo and Sabino De Gisi
Dr. De Feo and Dr. De Gisi are professors that instruct engineering at the University of Salerno
in Salerno, Italy.
We spent much of a rainy day (October 26, 2010) with De Feo and De Gisi in a meeting room at
the University. During our discussions, we discovered that the majority of De Feo’s work on the
Serino Aqueduct has been a “desktop survey” with very little field work. We discussed several
good references for the Serino Aqueduct research including L’Acqua Del Serino by Ottavaniano
De Biase. Other items discussed at this meeting were:
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•
The marble epigraph found at the Acquaro-Pelosi Spring which listed the towns that
receive water from the Serino Aqueduct; in order of water amount.
•
The Serino Aqueduct is the longest of all Roman aqueducts.
•
According to De Feo, the only areas of remnants of the Serino Aqueduct are near Sarno
and Castel San Giorgio.
•
De Gisi is an expert on the Roman reservoirs. He discussed the Piscina Mirabilis, the
reservoir at the terminus of the Serino Aqueduct. This reservoir had a storage volume of
approximately 12,600 cubic meters (335,000 gallons).
•
The Piscina Mirabilis and Serino Aqueducts were built sometime between 33 and 6 B.C.
(i.e., Augustine).
•
The Piscina Mirabilis may have been used for storage of water to supply to Roman ships
since the location of the reservoir is about 150 meters (500 feet) from the harbor.
•
De Feo discussed what is called the “Dragon’s Plain” and the “Dragon’s Mouth” where
surface water enters a limestone sinkhole to recharge some of the groundwater springs in
the area. There are concerns regarding water quality of the surface water that enters the
Dragon’s Mouth.
•
De Feo told us that Roman engineers built the qanat at Roccaraniola. Qanats are water
supply tunnels with vertical shafts that tap into subterranean water supplies. We later
visited the qanat during our field visit to the Town of Avella.
•
De Feo was sure that there was a branch of the Serino Aqueduct that served
Herculaneum, and this branch may have gone from Pompeii to Herculaneum.
2.5
Pasquale Maiella and Public Works Staff at Avella
Pasquale Maiella was most helpful. Mr. Maiella, an architect, is on the Publics Works staff of
the Town of Avella. He arranged for meetings with several townspeople including Nicola
Montanile, Avella’s local historian. These people described the springs that were located above
the town, explained that there were several millstone buildings that used the power of the water
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coming from the springs to grind grain, and told us of the Roman aqueduct bridge to the north of
town. They also gave a tour of all of these locations.
In addition, they explained that the rivers in the area had changed their course after the Mt.
Vesuvius eruption in 79 A.D. The Coghinas River, prior to the eruption, connected with the
Sarno River in the general area of Pompeii. After the eruption, the river changed its course
toward Nola and Naples.
During our visit to Avella, we also met the Mayor of the Town, Ms. Carmela Guerriero.
All of the people that we interviewed in the town thought that it was very possible that Pompeii
received water from the Avella Springs since the route for an aqueduct would not have to
traverse mountains and the descent from the springs to Pompeii would have been quite direct.
2.6
Paolo Iandolo
Paolo Iandolo is an engineer with the Naples Water Company (Azienda Risorse Idriche Napoli
[ARIN]). We met Mr. Iandolo at the Acquaro and Pelosi Springs and later visited the Urciuoli
Spring with Mr. Iandolo. He was very helpful with the engineering aspects of the current
delivery system that provided water from the springs to the City of Naples. He also provided
background on the Roman use of the modern day springs.
At our request, Mr. Iandolo provided water quality of the springs after we were back in Denver.
The ancient and modern aqueducts took separate paths with the modern aqueduct traveling some
57 kilometers to the City of Naples. The ancient Serino Aqueduct traveled 92 kilometers all the
way to the Piscina Mirabilis located to the northwest of the City of Naples.
2.7
Direttore Varrone
Dr. Varrone is the Director of Excavations at the City of Pompeii. We met briefly with him to
obtain final permission to perform work in Pompeii. He told us that we were welcome to do
work at the Castellum Aquae and the House of the Hanging Balcony; however, we could not
perform any work at the Stabian Baths due to restoration activities being conducted during our
visit.
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Dr. Varrone also directed us to the work completed by Christoph Ohlig and told us that it was the
best reference for the water/hydraulic work that we were there to perform.
2.8
Dr. Anna Maria Sodo
At the suggestion of Dr. Varrone, we met with Dr. Sodo at the Archaeological Information
System Vesuvius (SIAV) which is part of the Archaeological Superintendent’s Office of
Pompeii, located in the building of the Museum of Bosco Reale. The SIAV is a database that
addresses the details of Pompeii. We were told that, in the coming years, a computer record of
all data relating to archaeological sites around Vesuvius would be available in the SIAV.
We received a significant amount of detailed GIS and AutoCAD data from the SIAV after our
return to Denver.
2.9
Professore Mattia Crespi
On November 3, 2010, Meisha Hunter met with Prof. Crespi and three Ph.D. students in the
Geodesic Engineering Department of the Universita la Sapienza in Rome.
Prof. Crespi
mentioned that two of his students are archaeologists (Jolanda Patruno, Nicole Dore) who are
working on radar imaging and creating digital terrain models (DTM) of certain UNESCO sites.
They are also working with coarse version SRTM free NOAA 3x3, and RTK (real time
kinematic). Prof. Crespi and his students were interested in assisting with documenting the
alignment of the aqueduct from Avella to Pompeii, and suggested that some underground points
may be located using ground penetrating radar.
3.0
SITES VISITED AND MAJOR OBSERVATIONS
Much of our time in Italy was spent in the field performing observations and measurements of
the physical remnants.
Although we visited some very unique areas in Rome, the major
objective of the field visit was to study the water features in the Pompeii area. So, this section is
organized by the specific sites visited, first in Pompeii and then Rome.
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3.1
City of Pompeii
Several sites within the City of Pompeii were studied specifically. These include the Castellum
Aquae, House of the Hanging Balcony, and Pompeii Wells.
3.1.1 Castellum Aquae
The Castellum Aquae is located at the Porta del Vesuvio on the north side of the city. This
building is the highest elevation of Pompeii at approximately 42 meters (138 feet).
This
structure was the distribution point of the aqueduct water supply entering Pompeii. Once the
water reached the Castellum, it was split into three major pipelines for distribution. We have
learned that the lower, primary part of the Castellum was supposedly built with the initial
aqueduct (i.e., Avella Aqueduct) just after Pompeii became a Roman colony in 80 B.C. Later,
when the Serino Aqueduct was built (12 to 6 B.C.), the Castellum was modified to its existing
shape. A photograph of the outside of the Castellum is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Castellum Aquae at Pompeii. Three Major Supply Pipelines Exited Building at Lower Part of
Wall.
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The Castellum has a circular interior layout, approximately 6 meters (20 feet) in diameter. It
contains an interior domed vault and exterior trapezoidal dimensions. On the lower portion of
the southern wall, the three major pipelines exited the Castellum. On the exterior south wall,
there are three arches that have been filled in with brickwork, perhaps rebuilt after 62 A.D., when
the earthquake occurred.
During our visit, we were allowed the special privilege (by permission of Dr. Varone) of entering
the interior of the Castellum to make measurements and then to crawl through the influent tunnel
aqueduct for 16.5 meters (54 feet) to exit from a square vent shaft. This influent tunnel is the
aqueduct that was used as an escape route during the Vesuvius eruption for the main characters
Attilia and Corelia in Robert Harris’ novel Pompeii.
The upstream vent shaft also served as a junction of two tunnel aqueduct sections, one from the
north and a second from the east. The primary aqueduct is oriented from the north. The source
of this second branch from the east is unknown. We made measurements of the shaft and tunnel.
Measurements of the aqueduct section entering the Castellum showed a width of 52 cm (20
inches) and a height of 140 cm (55 inches). The aqueduct width measured at the shaft was also
52 cm (20 inches). There is a smaller channel section at the bottom of the aqueduct that
measures 23 cm (9 inches) wide and 30 cm (12 inches) deep. This smaller section is what was
believed to be used for conveying water with the upper wider channel used for maintenance
access. The aqueduct outlet to the Castellum is shown in Figure 4.
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Figure 4. Aqueduct Outlet to the Castellum with Meisha Hunter.
There is a wall painting above the aqueduct entrance to the Castellum that includes a garland
(indicative of prosperity), a river, and three nymphs.
We consulted the security guard manning a checkpoint located outside the gates, immediately
north of the Castellum to determine if he had any knowledge of the aqueduct. He was not aware
of any remnants and does not have any idea of the alignment of the aqueduct that most likely
went through his property.
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3.1.2 House of the Hanging Balcony
In our research prior to the field trip to Pompeii, we discovered that the lead water distribution
pipe system has been completely preserved in only one house in the entire city, Casa del Balcone
Pensile (Jansen, 2001), see Figure 5. So, we chose the House of the Hanging Balcony (the
House) to obtain field measurements and investigate the hydraulics of water service to the
House.
Figure 5. House of the Hanging Balcony with Support Scaffolding.
During our first visit, we were unable to enter the House since it was padlocked and the staff did
not have the key. We came back the next day after the staff had cut the lock. According to the
staff, our team was the first to visit the interior of the House for several years.
Water that served the House was distributed from the Castellum to one of 17 local water towers
in the city, see Figure 6. The water tower that served the House is to the west along Avenue
Vicolo Del Balcone Pensile with the base of the tower at approximately elevation of 32 meters
(105 feet). This is approximately 10 meters (33 feet) less than the elevation of the Castellum.
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We measured the height of the water tower at 6.27 meters (21 feet) and its location is only 28
meters (92 feet) from the front door of the House. Based on our observations, lead piping ran
from the tower on both sides of the Avenue Vicolo Del Balcone Pensile to the east of the tower.
The piping fed other houses and a public fountain approximately 44 meters (144 feet) from the
tower.
Figure 6. Water Tower Serving the House of the Hanging Balcony.
As reported by Jansen, the piping within the House has been preserved from the outside of the
front door to the water feature located inside. The piping has an inside clear diameter of
approximately 30 mm (1.2 inches) and we observed some calcium carbonate scaling on the
inside surfaces of the pipe. We followed the piping from the door into the center area of the
House, where we discovered a manifold with 4 valves to control water flow, see Figures 7 and 8.
The manifold and valve assembly was remarkable since it is very similar to what is used in
modern residential plumbing, see Figure 8. The valves appeared to be made of bronze (due to
the green discoloring of the valve bodies by oxidation since the uncovering).
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Figure 7. Following the Piping into the House of the Hanging Balcony.
The water served by the piping system was used in a water fountain statue of a small boy with
water coming out of his hand. Two other pipes went from the manifold system to fountains that
jetted water from curved sections of small lead pipes to a catch basin below the statue. The
statue is no longer in the House, but we have a photo taken of the statue, in situ, just after
excavation of the House (in 1897). Since our trip, we have also located the statue (by letter with
the Superintendent) in the storage area of Pompeii artifacts recovered during excavations that are
not currently on display.
Also, as shown in Figure 9, we borrowed a level instrument from a Spanish archeological team
from the University of Salamanca that was doing work in Pompeii. Based on survey, the House
had a water pressure at the fountain of about 4.8 meters (15.7 feet).
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Figure 8. Piping Manifold with Valves – House of the Hanging Balcony.
Figure 9. Survey at the House of the Hanging Balcony.
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3.1.3 Pompeii Wells
Prior to the aqueduct bringing water to Pompeii, the inhabitants relied on groundwater and
rainwater as supplies. There are 22 deep wells that have been identified in the excavated portion
of Pompeii. Several of these wells were larger than others and served important functions of
providing water to the public baths.
The depth of groundwater beneath Pompeii is between 20 and 37 meters (66 and 121 feet), with
the shallower depth occurring in the lower city surface elevations on the south side and the
deeper groundwater located on the north side.
We inspected several wells during the Pompeii site visit. We visited a well that served the
Stabian Bath (2.90 meters by 2.0 meters by approximately 25 meters deep). This well had
calcium carbonate scaling on the sides where the water was pulled from the well. It is known
that a water lifting mechanism was used to haul up the water from the well into the bath
complex. We were denied detailed study access to the Stabian Bath since a restoration campaign
was in progress. We measured another large well structure with interior dimensions of 2 meters
by 2.4 meters (6.5 feet by 8 feet) at a location behind a public fountain in Pompeii at the
approach of Region VI, from the direction of the Pompeii Forum. A photograph of this well
structure is shown in Figure 10. This well had a foundation of a water tower (outside dimensions
of 1 meter by 1.2 meters) adjacent to the well wall. This suggests that the well may have been
used to provide groundwater to the water tower. Perhaps the water towers were in use before the
aqueducts were constructed?
991-999.1121
June 2011
Page 17
Figure 10. Pompeii Well Structure Located Behind a Public Fountain.
Two other wells were observed. One was at the Terme Del Foro, also with an adjacent water
tower. This well is also known to have had a lifting mechanism. Another well was a private
house well at Casa Di Sallustio located in the corner of a room towards the front of the house.
3.2
Pompeii Region
The Avella and Serino Aqueduct systems that brought water from outside of the city were a
major focus of our field studies. A schematic layout of the Serino Aqueduct is shown in
Figure 11. We traveled in the Pompeii Region to gather information regarding these systems.
991-999.1121
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Page 18

Tirone
Figure 11. Schematic Layout of the Serino (Augustan) Aqueduct. (From DeFeo)
3.2.1 Tirone – Serino
The aqueduct vestiges at Tirone are located about 12.3 kilometers (7.7 miles) north from the
Castellum Aquae. These ruins are in a key location; in the area where the earlier constructed
Avella Aqueduct was intersected with the later Serino Aqueduct. With what we know now, the
Tirone artifacts are the closest remaining aqueduct sections to the city. One of the objectives of
future study will be to determine if there are other remnants that are on a theoretical aqueduct
alignment from Tirone to the Castellum (we have learned that there may be other remnants in
private houses in the Tirone area).
The remnants at Tirone are fenced and accessible by a gate that is normally locked. We were
allowed into the site by Mr. Sorrentino and Ms. Noppi of the Gruppo Archeologico Avellano –
Terra Di Palma. The Tirone site is fascinating in many ways. First, there are two parallel
sections of the Serino, as shown in Figure 12. One section (north) is the older section from the
original Augustan construction. The other (south) section was constructed during a rehabilitation
of the aqueduct in 323 A.D., during the reign of the emperor Constantine. According to Mr.
Sorrentino, the rehabilitation included approximately 15 kilometers (9 miles) of the original
Serino Aqueduct in this area.
991-999.1121
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Figure 12. Serino Aqueduct (Looking Westerly) at Tirone Showing the South Channel (323 A.D.) on the
Left and North (Old) Channel on the Right.
Next, the aqueduct was constructed with a gabled roof, which was typical of the aqueduct
sections in this region. The aqueduct width of the south section was measured at 82 cm (32
inches) wide, with no scaling, and 258 cm (101 inches) from the bottom to the apex of the gable.
The north aqueduct section had a width of 71 cm (28 inches) and a total height of 220 cm (87
inches). The south aqueduct and dimensions are shown in Figure 13.
Another aspect of the aqueduct sections at Tirone is that the calcium carbonate scaling on the
aqueduct walls are quite different when comparing the two sections. The older, north section has
very little scaling. The Constantine (south) section shows more water use with a buildup of scale
of 13 to 15 cm (5 to 6 inches) thick on each wall of the aqueduct channel. In addition, the
thickness of scaling varies with the depth of the channel with the maximum thickness at the middepth of the channel. From mid-depth, the thickness tapers both higher and lower than middepth. This indicates that the depth (and flow) of water in the channel varied considerably
during the operation of the aqueduct. This may have been due to the seasonal variation of flow
from the springs.
991-999.1121
June 2011
Page 20
Figure 13. Southern Aqueduct Dimensions. Built by Constantine in 323 A.D.
We have calculated the slope of an aqueduct that would stretch from the Tirone area to the
Castellum at S = 0.0005.
3.2.2 Muro d’Arce
Located approximately 3.4 kilometers (2 miles) southeast of the Tirone site is Muro d’Arce (wall
of Arce). The site is so named because the aqueduct was located on top of a long wall located on
a former farm called d’Arce. The Muro d’Arce follows the topography along a steep hillside and
a portion is supported by a retaining wall engineered by the Romans.
991-999.1121
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Page 21
The aqueduct at this location carried the Serino with flow occurring from southeast to northwest.
We were able to visit only the northwest section of this site, in an olive grove, since we received
permission from only this property owner.
The Muro d’Arce has suffered significant
degradation due to natural forces on a slope, farming activities, and development.
A major aspect of this location was the Roman engineering use of a unique semi-circular (in
plan) design for foundation support of the aqueduct on a steep hill. We measured the radius of
the circular portions of the structure at one meter (3.3 feet) and the supporting buttresses between
the semi-circular portions at 1.1 meters (3.6 feet) thick.
3.2.3 Acquaro-Pelosi and Urciuoli Springs
Visiting the source water location of the Serino Aqueduct was a major objective of our research
site visit. Mr. Paolo Iandolo, ARIN, was a gracious host at the site and provided us much
information.
The source of water to the ancient Roman Serino aqueduct was in the southern Apennine
Mountains near the modern town of Serino, Italy. The Acquaro and Pelosi Springs are located at
an elevation of 375 meters (1230 feet) when compared to the elevation of the Castellum Aquae at
44 meters (145 feet). This is a drop of 341 meters (985 feet) over a projected ancient aqueduct
length of 60 kilometers (37 miles). This calculates to an average slope of 0.0057.
The springs are still very productive and originate from the Terminio Karst Aquifer of the
Apennine’s. The springs are a major potable water supply for the modern City of Naples. Water
is transported to Naples through a 2 meter (6.6 feet) diameter pipeline for a length of 72
kilometers (43 miles).
At the time of our visit, the Acquaro-Pelosi springs were producing about 500 to 600 liters per
second (18 to 21 cubic feet per second) and can produce 1,000 liters per second (35 cfs) in the
winter rainy season. The springs are, in fact, two long horizontal infiltration galleries (700
meters and 800 meters, respectively) that are constructed at a depth of about 30 meters. The
infiltration galleries flow into a round spring house (9 meters in diameter), see Figure 14. One of
the highlights of our visit was that we were able to visit the interior of the spring house (which is
not common because of security reasons). The visit was arranged by Mr. Illiano.
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Figure 14. Acquaro-Pelosi Springs – Round Spring House Showing Water Cascading From Infiltration
Galleries to Clearwell.
The water quality of the springs was provided to us by Mr. Iandolo and is presented in Table 1
along with water quality of spring water from Southern France near Barbegal. The quality of the
Acquaro-Pelosi shows slightly hard water with a calcium carbonate scaling potential. This
explains the calcium carbonate depositions that are evident on the walls of the ancient Serino
Aqueduct.
Table 1
Water Quality of the Acquaro-Pelosi Springs Compared to Barbegal Springs
Parameter
Southern France – Barbegal
Acquaro-Pelosi Springs, Italy
Hardness (mg/L)
310
214
Calcium (mg/L)
110
64
Magnesium (mg/L)
9.5
13
Sodium (mg/L)
10
7
Chloride (mg/L)
10
9
Sulfate (mg/L)
38
9
991-999.1121
June 2011
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When the Acquaro-Pelosi Springs were developed for the modern Naples water supply, a Roman
marble epigraph was discovered and is on display in the spring house. The epigraph explains the
restoration of the Serino Aqueduct under the Emperor Constantine and lists the towns that the
aqueduct served. The date on the epigraph is 323 A.D. Of course, the list of towns served does
not include Pompeii, since it was buried under the volcanic material of the Mt. Vesuvius eruption
in 79 A.D.
The Urciuoli Springs are separate and located approximately 5 kilometers from the AcquaroPelosi Springs. These springs were more productive at 1,380 liters per second (49 cfs) during
our visit. These springs may not have been used in the Serino Aqueduct and were known to be a
source of water to the ancient City of Benevento with an aqueduct that followed the path of the
nearby Sabato River. This separate ancient Roman aqueduct was called the Sannitico Aqueduct.
A section of the Sannitico Aqueduct survives, located near the Urciuoli Springs. The section is
similar to the Serino section with a gabled top.
We took measurements of the Sannitico
Aqueduct section: 61 centimeters (24 inches) wide and 168 centimeters (66 inches) to the top of
the section.
3.2.4 Avella Springs and the Roman Aqueduct Bridge
The Avella Springs were a source of water for the Roman inhabitants in the area. Whether or not
the Avella Springs supplied water to Pompeii is a question that we seek to investigate in our
future studies.
The springs are located in a valley to the northeast of the modern Town of Avella in the
Apennine Mountains. There are many small springs in this valley and we visited four of them
with the Town Public Works staff. The range of flow rates at each of these springs at the time of
our visit ranged from 5 to 45 liters per second (0.2 to 1.6 cfs). All of these springs are being used
as a water supply for the Town of Avella.
The remote spring we visited was the Sambuco Spring. A spring house was constructed over the
spring with water coming from a hillside cave.
Several years ago, a Roman aqueduct vestige was discovered during the construction of a
modern pipeline near the Bontino 6 Spring. It appears that the aqueduct carried the spring water
991-999.1121
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Page 24
down the valley and, according to the Town staff; the remnants of four water powered mills have
been identified. We visited three of the four sites with initial observations that were inconclusive
as to whether these were mill sites.
The Roman aqueduct bringing the water out of the valley included a bridge to carry the water
over the Clanio River. We visited the bridge and it is a superb single arch bridge with a span of
8.6 meters (28 feet) and is fully intact, see Figure 15. We measured the width of the channel
over the bridge at 60 centimeters (24 inches).
Figure 15. Roman Aqueduct Bridge at Avella.
3.2.5 Roccarainaolla Qanats
During our visit with the Avella Public Works staff, they suggested that we visit an ancient
tunneled site in the area of Roccarainaolla, west of Avella. As we learned from Prof. De Feo,
these were qanats that may have been constructed prior to the Roman colonization of the area.
We inspected a tunnel section that was not familiar to us as a typical Roman aqueduct. The
tunnel was dug through the existing geologic strata with no trace of mortar or stones or rubble or
hydraulic concrete. However, there were vertical air shafts that were constructed from stone and
mortar. We visited seven of these shafts over a distance of several hundred meters. The shafts
were circular in section with a diameter of 49 centimeters (19 inches).
991-999.1121
June 2011
Page 25
3.3
Rome Region
We visited Rome for two days and photographed some of the iconic aqueduct sites in and around
the city. One of our goals was to visit the ancient spring water sources in the Anio River Valley.
3.3.1 Traiana Aqueduct at the American Academy in Rome
The Aqua Traiana was an aqueduct built in the 1st Century by the Emperor Trajan and
inaugurated on 24 June 109 AD. During our visit with Dr. Cory Brennan and fellow John
Matteo, we were invited to inspect a section of the aqueduct that has been preserved under the c.
1913 villa at the American Academy in Rome (Academy). We entered the aqueduct section by a
hatchway built into the floor of the cryptoporticus. The Traiana section had dimensions of 181
centimeters (71 inches) from floor to apex and 98 cm (39 inches) wide, see Figure 16.
Because of Meisha Hunter’s past study at the Academy, we were able to spend some time in the
library to do some research. Here, we obtained copies of several papers addressing Pompeii
hydraulics.
Figure 16. Inside the Triania Aqueduct underneath the American Academy of Rome.
991-999.1121
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Page 26
3.3.2 Source Springs and Aqueduct Section – Aqua Claudia and Marcia
The water sources for the great Aqua Claudia and the Marcia (also the Aqua Anio Novus) are
located in the Anio River Valley approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) east (straight line) of
ancient Rome. The Aqua Claudia was about 69 kilometers (43 miles) long along the aqueduct
route. This compares to the Serino Aqueduct at 96 kilometers (about 60 miles).
The geology in the Anio River Valley is similar to the geology of the more southern section of
the Apennine Mountains at the Acquaro-Pelosi Springs that served the Serino Aqueduct at
Pompeii. The spring sources for the Claudia and Marcia are from the Simbruini Mountains,
which are in the central section of the Apennines. The limestone and karst landscape, with the
fissures and caves that provide storage for the rainfall on the mountains, is also similar to the
geology in the Alpilles Mountains that served as the water source supply at Barbegal in Southern
France.
We went as far as Nero’s Villa, where the Roman Emperor constructed dams on the Anio River,
which later became the source of the Anio Novus. We visited modern day springs (Marano
Equo) where the local people come and fill jars for their home supply.
The springs in the Anio Valley are currently used to supply potable water to Rome. We stopped
at a maintenance facility for the springs and talked with a man with the Azienda Comunale
Energia e Ambiente (ACEA) who informed us that the current capacity of the springs that
delivered water to Rome was at 5,000 liters per second (176 cfs).
We also made a stop at the San Cosimato Tunnel where the Claudia Aqueduct crossed the Anio
River (the location is Map 14, Aicher 1995). We were able to measure the aqueduct width at 98
centimeters.
3.3.3 Source Springs – Virgo
Meisha Hunter studied the 21 km long, gravity fed, Virgo Aqueduct during her fellowship year
at the Academy. Thus, we had a personal tour of the source springs and detailed history of the
Virgo during our visit.
991-999.1121
June 2011
Page 27
The Virgo was dedicated in 19 B.C. after both the Aqua Claudia and the Marcia; however, the
source spring water at the Sorgente di Salone was much closer to the city, see Figure 17.
Figure 17. Current Day Water Tower at the Site of the Groundwater Spring Used for the Ancient Virgo
Aqueduct that Served Rome.
4.0
FUTURE STUDY AND ACTION PLAN
The research and data obtained during this field visit will be developed with the goal of
authoring papers and articles for submittal to civil engineering and water history journals and
magazines. Currently, the following subjects are planned for papers:
1. The Hydraulics of Water Supply to the House of the Hanging Balcony.
2. Groundwater Well Supply at Pompeii.
3. Ancient Roman Water Supplies from Karstic Landscapes: Similarities from Pompeii,
Rome, and Gaul (Southern France).
Additional field work is needed in the Pompeii region. One priority of study is for research and
investigation of site archeological remains to confirm the route of the Avella and Serino
Aqueducts, as shown in Figure 18.
991-999.1121
June 2011
Page 28
Figure 18. Route of Avella and Serino (Augustus) Aqueducts.
Within the City of Pompeii, work remains to inventory and measure the public fountains, wells, and water towers. In addition, the use
of wells and mechanisms for pumping water to the Pompeii public baths is an area of desired research.
991-999.1121
June 2011
Page 29
5.0
REFERENCES
Aicher, Peter J. 1995. Guide to the Aqueducts of Ancient Rome. Bolchazy – Carducci Publishers,
Wauconda, Illinois.
Berry, Joann. 2007. The Complete Pompeii. Thames and Hudson Publishing, New York.
Jansen, 2001. Water Pipe Systems in the Houses of Pompeii in A.O. Koloski-Ostrow (ed.) Water
Use and Hydraulics in the Roman City. Dubuque, I.A. Kendall Hunt: 27-40.
Ohlig, Christoph P.J. 2001. De aquis Pompeiorum. Das Castellum Aquae in Pompeji: Herkunft,
Zuleitung und Verteilung des Wassers. Circumvesuviana, Volume 4. Nijmegen: Books
on Demand GmbH, Norderstedt.
Z:\Project Files\GO\991-999\991-999.1121\Deliverables\Trip Report - 2010\Pompeii Trip Report June.doc
991-999.1121
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Page 30
APPENDIX A
Authorization Letters Dated
September 19, 2010 and October 25, 2010
10 /0 9 2010 1 2' 41 FA I 0818575310
SOPRINTENDE'V.
PO~lPEI
~OO l
ft
-
;Ministero per i lJJeni e
re j(ttività Culturali
Soprinterufenza Speciak peri rBeni)ln;lieoCogici
tfì :Napoli e <Pompei
SERVIZIO I . S'lf'tmo Sdottifiro
Prot. n .
Risposra a IIDTlI n.
/Ii! Ns. Prol. N. 29896
Class.l8.I 3.07
Ali. n.
dci 28.08.2010
del 31.08.]010
Int.
---l> AI Dr. Wayue F. Lorem:
MBAC-SSBA·NA
PROTARCPOM
003112310/09/2010
CI. 28. I 3.07/5
Wright WaIrc EngineeI>, Jru:
DENVERICO
Fu 303 - 480 1020
E, p.C. AlI. Società AretIrusa
BigIktteria Scavi
All' Ufficio Scavi di Pompei
OGGETTO: Scavi di Pompei. Aworizzazione visita e misurazioni, oon ingresso gratuito. Periodo: oMbre 2010,
A riscontro deU.e-mail deI28agosto2010enell .ambitodellostudiosull .usodell.3ajll3aIIticaegestionedelleac<[ue.si
autorizzano il dott. Wa)''''' F, Lon:az, direttore dell ' Istituto Romano di Ingegneria Idraulica pre'so il
PaIeobydrological Wrigt di De:nver (Colorado) e cinque collaborJItori, ad accedere gralllitamell1e agIJ Scavi di Pompei,
per osservare le caratteristiche dell'acqua alI'ink;mo della città antica, individuare i resti dell' acquedotto Serino
all' estemo della città e prendere mi!.ure GPS.
Si prega prendere preventivi contatti oon l 'Ufficio Scavi di Pompei (0039 081 8575403-4(0) per definire le modalilà
deUe visite da effettuare.
IL
lOPJ>~ENfE
PF
'Gilijf
Proietti
rr
Pi.:u:zaM_ 19 - 80135 - Nopoli. Id Pb~ +39081-44l2111- FIl"; +3;081440013
Vi, villb driMid.mi, 2 - 80045 Pompo:" CNA) - Tal. -Pbx .39081,51S1 \ l; FiIX +35081861318'3
Cod.!c..c; fiIW., 9} 102.1606)4
a'?+n.i@hgnjcu! luraljìr, hp,p 'i/Wl!J" camp:jIljabçnje!JNtoli jl; WP"j/yr1rryt pq""""";il'l.!l),gr;
SEP 10 201 0 03'51
0818575310
P;1GE .01
SOPRINTENDE,ZA POMPEI
25 / 10 2010 14 :09 FAX 0818575 310
DA : C01'JMISSAR ID DELEGQTO PDr1PE I
N.FAX
:0216575234
~001
12 GEN. 201023: 32
P1
9rii1Ustero per i (JJmi e re JI ttività Quftw-a/i
Scprinterufen.za Speciak peri lBen(71,,.dico(ogiçi
di !Napofi e !Pompei
SERV1Z10 I - S~",,(,riu Sdottifica
l'mi. n.
All. II.
RUpoSla D norD n,
Rif. /1,•• Pro, N. 35682
CI=.28.11.07
d,I 14.10.20/0
del 19.10.2010
MBAC·SSBA·NA
?ROTARCPOM
Pompei
00364 10 25/10/20- O
CI. 26.13.07/5
l.,
AIWP!
WI'igh! Pakohydrologica1lnstitut
c.a. Prof. Wayoe F. Lo,..".
Derrver - Colorodo
Fm: 001303 480 1020
E, p.c. AlJ. Società Arothusa
Biglù:ttJ:,ria Scavi
AlJ' UfIielo Sc2vi di Pompei
OGGETTO: Scavi di Pompei. Aut<>ri1zazione visita e ingII'aso grntuito. Poriodo: 2~ -29 oItob ... 2tJIO.
A risconlTO dell'i&1anz:l del 14 otUlbre 2010 • nell'lIt11blto di un viaggio di studio, si 'otoriz2J!no i riccn;atori Wayoo
Lorcl\2, Gai] Loronz, MoishA H\lJ\lOr • Erik Baros ad accedere flIlIrui1lUru:111t: agli Scavi Pompei ocl periodo indkalo in
ogg.:rto, P'" visimre ed dn:ttuare riJIIl"< fotografiche degli impianti idrici dci seguenti "",ghi.
C!\SA dol BoI"",," Pensile e fontano vane.
Siamo sp1acerrti di comunicare che, a causa di !a\'ori in cor.;o. non è possibile autori.zz:m! la vi&im allo Terme Stabiant.
Si prc:ga ptt:ndrn: p'avontivi contatti con l'Ufficio Scavi di Pompei (<cl . 081 &575403.4(0), por definire le modalità
dc113 vi9ira da etJ'ettuare,
lL~~~NTE
Je~r~ulc5
lJf
Pì...z:u M\IK'O. l'' - 8013' - N, poIl- Tol Pblt +)~ll ""2~ 1' 1_ l-' 1llI +::;901 146L111 13
v,ovUlo dei M!lMD. Z - B~ l'ompcl(N A)' Tol. -J'tr.!!; +31108115"1 11; FILI: +J~la6UU)
ç,ç,dio:' J'j,,~~1c: 95HT.!7C:06,Jo
""t;.Q..r41rc:t1!Q\I!{uu.h,l!. taw~
OCT 25 2013 05 : 19
b:tP~npm:yi" jk 'W
06 185 75310
P~ G E. 0 1

pompeii (and rome) water supply systems

Transcription

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