Ammon News - Researchers from Mainz, Oxford, and Innsbruck have used carbonate fragments to unravel the complex history of the Arles aqueduct system.

A team of researchers from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), the University of Oxford, and the University of Innsbruck has reconstructed the intricate history of the ancient aqueduct system in Arles, located in Provence.

Their analysis focused on aqueduct carbonates—limescale deposits—that had built up over time in channels, basins, and lead pipes, as well as on fragments of carbonate used as construction material in the roof of the Baths of Constantine. The results of their study were published on June 28, 2025, in the scientific journal Geoarchaeology.

Carbonates for the Complete Picture
“This study provides a clear example of how a Roman aqueduct functioned over several centuries, undergoing multiple phases of transformation, maintenance, and adaptation by Roman engineers. It stands out as one of the best-documented cases of sustainable water management in the ancient world,” explained Dr. Gül Sürmelihindi from the Institute of Geosciences at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), who led the research.

“Unlike previous studies that focused on individual aqueducts, we examined the entire water supply network of ancient Arles, which included several aqueducts, a shared basin, and interconnected urban water structures,” added Professor Dr. Cees Passchier, also from the Institute of Geosciences at JGU, who collaborated on the study.

Carbonates for the Complete Picture
“This study provides a clear example of how a Roman aqueduct functioned over several centuries, undergoing multiple phases of transformation, maintenance, and adaptation by Roman engineers. It stands out as one of the best-documented cases of sustainable water management in the ancient world,” explained Dr. Gül Sürmelihindi from the Institute of Geosciences at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), who led the research.

“Unlike previous studies that focused on individual aqueducts, we examined the entire water supply network of ancient Arles, which included several aqueducts, a shared basin, and interconnected urban water structures,” added Professor Dr. Cees Passchier, also from the Institute of Geosciences at JGU, who collaborated on the study.

“We found carbonate deposits in the ceiling debris that matched those from the northern aqueduct,” said Sürmelihindi. “This indicates that when the baths were constructed in the early fourth century AD under Emperor Constantine, the aqueduct was not only still in use but had likely been restored, with carbonate removed from the channels repurposed as roofing material.” SciTechDaily