Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Interior of the water castle, the water distribution structure of the aqueduct of Pompeii. SOCIAL SCIENCES Pompeii's public baths and water supplyThe eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE preserved in time the Italian city of Pompeii, including the city's entire water system.Deposits of calcium carbonate in the wells, public baths, and aqueduct of Pompei can reveal changes in water sources, quality, and quantity over time.Gül Sürmelihindi et al. combined geochemical analysis of carbonate deposits with archaeological observations to reconstruct the history of Pompeii's water supply.Analysis of stable isotope and trace element compositions revealed that public bathing facilities and industrial complexes were initially fed by deep wells.Manpowered, water-lifting machinery was used to draw water from the wells, which had shafts up to 40 meters deep to reach groundwater.Deposits in the heated pools of the Republican Baths, which were abandoned around 30 or 20 BCE, showed clear evidence of contamination from human activity, suggesting that bath water was not replenished regularly.Construction of an aqueduct during the Augustan Period, from 27 BCE to 14 CE, provided an alternative, more permanent water supply that enabled the expansion of bathing facilities and likely improved hygiene.According to the authors, the findings provide insights into the development of Pompeii's public baths, which formed an important aspect of Roman culture.-M.H.
DOI: 10.1073/iti0326123
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7124929921
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