Archaeologists in Nijmegen have found a section of wall belonging to an ancient Roman aqueduct which once ran from the hills outside Berg en Dal to the legion camp stationed in Nijmegen, the city said in a statement on Saturday.
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| Cross section of a ditch with traces of a possible water pipe at the bottom, found on Hertogstraat in the centre of Nijmegen [Credit: Archaeology Nijmegen] |
The structure was discovered 3 metres below the surface of a construction pit, which archaeologists suspect may have been the remains of a gutter through which water flowed, according to the municipality.
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| Trench of possibly a water pipe, found at the Scheidemakershof in the centre of Nijmegen [Credit: Archaeology Nijmegen] |
The Romans are likely to have used the aqueduct to channel drinking water to a nearby legion of about 5,000 soldiers in what would be the present day neighbourhood of Hunnerberg on the city’s east side.
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| The excavation at Bosweg [Credit: Archaeology Nijmegen] |
“From about 71 AD on the Hunnerberg lay the only legion in what is now the Netherlands: the legio X gemina,” the city said in a statement. “A military city (Canabae legionis) was founded around the camp, where thousands of people also lived and worked. It is estimated that at least 10,000 to 15,000 people lived on the Hunnerberg. The daily need for clean drinking water was greater than what was available locally. The Roman solution is the aqueduct.”
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| Reconstruction of the Xanten water pipeline [Credit: Archaeology Nijmegen] |
The site was closed off after archaeologists took samples to learn more about its function. The find is part of a broader protected historical site including which is currently seeking status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The submission was made by 20 Dutch municipalities, three Dutch provinces, and two German states, with a decision expected next year.
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| An illustration of where the aqueduct must have been [Credit: M Kuster/Archaeology Nijmegen] |
The Zuid-Holland town of Voorburg and Nijmegen in Gelderland are the only two Dutch cities that can trace their origins back to Roman times. The settlement of Noviomagus first received city rites in 98 AD.
