DOI article:
Recław, Janusz: Remarks on the lead waterworks at Novae
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41865#0087
Janusz Recław
Warsaw
REMARKS ON THE LEAD WATERWORKS AT NO YAE
Archaeological explorations at Novae, in the camp of the First Italie Legion
and the later settlement that developed on the site, have yielded substantial data
on the water supply system, including important finds of lead parts of the water-
works.
On the grounds of relatively freąuent finds of semi-processed lead products,
lead slag etc., in the valetudinarium, for example, it may be assumed, that most
of the pipes had been produced on the spot, at Novae, that is. Confirmation of
this theory, comes from other sites as well. The supply ofthe materiał, was brought
to the construction site, where it was processed in fumaces, to give it the re-
ąuired form. Lead was transported from the mines, or to put it morę properly,
from lead works, in the form of ingots. An ingot of this sort, dated to the 4th
century AD, was found in the ruins of the horreum discovered in sector IV
[Szubert 1983, 101].
Research on the Novae waterworks started in the early 20th century with Karol
ŚkorpiFs [Śkoipil 1905, 456 ff] survey of the site, resulting in the discovery of
the remains of a stone water channel on the bank of the Danube. Śkorpił drew,
the first schematic map of the vicinity of Novae (fig. 1) and included on it, two
water-supply systems running from the west towards the fortress walls, which
were shown in outline.
The next to investigate the water supply in this region was S. Stefanov [Ste-
fanov 1930-1931]. Based on his own field observations, he also produced a map
of the Novae region (later developed by M. Biemacka-Lubańska), on which he
included the layout. of the water-supply system (fig. 2). He also published data
concerning the water-supply tank that fed all the lead pipes of the system.
Stefanov’s work is notable for taking into consideration not only his own
observations, but also orał testimony from the local populace [Stefanov 1930-
1931,268] especially the reports of Antonio Introvini, who managed waterworks
construction in Svistov in 1915 [Stefanov 1930-1931, 271].
Stefanov’s fieldwork in 1928, was presumably the first to be carried out, on the
Warsaw
REMARKS ON THE LEAD WATERWORKS AT NO YAE
Archaeological explorations at Novae, in the camp of the First Italie Legion
and the later settlement that developed on the site, have yielded substantial data
on the water supply system, including important finds of lead parts of the water-
works.
On the grounds of relatively freąuent finds of semi-processed lead products,
lead slag etc., in the valetudinarium, for example, it may be assumed, that most
of the pipes had been produced on the spot, at Novae, that is. Confirmation of
this theory, comes from other sites as well. The supply ofthe materiał, was brought
to the construction site, where it was processed in fumaces, to give it the re-
ąuired form. Lead was transported from the mines, or to put it morę properly,
from lead works, in the form of ingots. An ingot of this sort, dated to the 4th
century AD, was found in the ruins of the horreum discovered in sector IV
[Szubert 1983, 101].
Research on the Novae waterworks started in the early 20th century with Karol
ŚkorpiFs [Śkoipil 1905, 456 ff] survey of the site, resulting in the discovery of
the remains of a stone water channel on the bank of the Danube. Śkorpił drew,
the first schematic map of the vicinity of Novae (fig. 1) and included on it, two
water-supply systems running from the west towards the fortress walls, which
were shown in outline.
The next to investigate the water supply in this region was S. Stefanov [Ste-
fanov 1930-1931]. Based on his own field observations, he also produced a map
of the Novae region (later developed by M. Biemacka-Lubańska), on which he
included the layout. of the water-supply system (fig. 2). He also published data
concerning the water-supply tank that fed all the lead pipes of the system.
Stefanov’s work is notable for taking into consideration not only his own
observations, but also orał testimony from the local populace [Stefanov 1930-
1931,268] especially the reports of Antonio Introvini, who managed waterworks
construction in Svistov in 1915 [Stefanov 1930-1931, 271].
Stefanov’s fieldwork in 1928, was presumably the first to be carried out, on the