Pompeii’s ancient drainage system is in such good condition that it is set to be put back into active service, despite being built almost 2,300 years ago.
A 1,500ft stretch of tunnels underneath some of the famed Italian city’s most iconic structures was originally built to drain water downhill away from Pompeii’s centre.
Analysis of the tunnels revealed they had been almost untouched for millennia and the complex system is still in excellent condition.
‘The entrances to the drains were blocked but since we have problems today with flooding from rain we will start using them again,’ Massimo Osanna, the director of the site, told The Times.
‘The fact we can do this is testament to the excellent engineering skills at the time.’
A project has seen the Archaeological Park of Pompeii partner up with speleologists — professional cave analysts — from the Cocceius Association.
Since 2018, the 1,500ft (457m) network of tunnels — which are big enough for a human to fit inside — has been carefully assessed.
A further 1,500ft of tunnels will now undergo similar analysis to determine its state and if it is fit to be used again.
Pictured, where the 1,500ft of drainage tunnels lies underneath the city of Pompeii. They carried rain and floodwater away from the city centre and into the sea
The post Pompeii’s Ancient Drains are Still in Working Order and Will Be Used Again To Empty Rainwater Into the sea 2,300 Years After They Were Built appeared first on LewRockwell.
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