Archaeologia BulgaricaХІХ, 2 (2015), 41-62

The Water Supply of Augusta Traiana

Maria KAMISHEVA

Abstract: The city of Augusta Traiana in Roman Thrace has revealed a lot of informa-tion about its water supply during 2nd-6th c. СЕ. This article analyses the available data.

Key words: Roman water supply, Roman Thrace, Augusta Traiana.

IntroductionThe problem of water supply of ancient cities, and that of Augusta Traiana (now the city of Stara Zagora in south Bulgaria, map 1a) in particular, has been discussed numerous times in recent years. In most cases, only certain aspects of this issue have been considered. The only comprehensive study on water delivery structures in Thrace and Moesia was published in 2006 – its author summarized the published data about various cities and provided the respective parallels between them (Църов 2006, 17-31)1.

More recently, our knowledge of Augusta Traiana’s water supply system has been considerably enriched, due to intense construction works within the area of the “Augusta Traiana-Vereya-Stara Zagora” Archaeological reserve. The addition of this new evidence requires the reassessment of some previously published assumptions.

Water supply to the city wallsThe main water source that supplied the ancient city was identified in the Besh Bunar locality, about 3 km north of the settlement (map 1). An intake collected water from five wells, now approximately 4.50 m below contemporary ground level2. The intake structure is essentially a vaulted gallery plastered in hydrophobic mortar. It is around 1.40 m wide and 1.60 m high. On one side, its floor is shaped with a 0,65 m wide indentation that serves as an access path. On the other side is a 2.50 m deep channel, in which the water flows. Similar structures, which sup-plied ancient Philippopolis (now the city of Plovdiv in south Bulgaria), have been discovered outside Markovo village near Plovdiv (Кесякова 1997, 34-35, фиг. 1; Кесякова 1999, 99-101, обр. 123-124). Almost identical is the water delivery facility at the ancient city of Gortyn on Crete, built around the 2nd century CE (Giorgi 2008, 293, fig. 4).

The tunnels that conduct the water to the collecting basin are vaulted as well. They are constructed of cut flat stones bound with mortar. The walls of the galleries were not plastered, and so soaked in and collected water from the soil. Multiple traces of heavy calcification are evident on the surface of the stones. The floor was shaped as a channel with a rec-tangular cross section. Transverse vaulted tunnels, now filled with soil and stones, were constructed in one of the side walls, about 0.60 m from the floor of the main gallery. It is possible that they originally reached the ground surface and could have been used for inspection of the struc-ture. Also present along the walls of the galleries are rectangular niches that probably contained lighting devices or tools (fig. 1/1, 2).

1 In 2014 Ivan Tsarov (History Museum at the city of Veliko Tarnovo, north Bulgaria) defended his dissertation “Aqueducts in the Bulgarian Lands, 2nd-4th c. CE”, in which he analyzed in detail the water supply of ancient cities in the territory of Bulgaria.

2 Up to now no archaeological studies of the way water was collected have been carried out. Future surveys should clear up this issue. The description of the facil-ity is based on personal observations by the author in the beginning on 2013.

Map 1. Outer water supply of Augusta Traiana – from the source to the fortress walls: 1 Besh Bunar – main water source for Augusta Traiana; 2 Collector, south of the source in Besh Bunar locality; 3 Bridge structure from the Augusta Traiana aqueduct

in the Saborenata Kyupriya locality; 4 Masonry channel, part of the Augusta Traiana aqueduct, found near Zagorka brewery; 5 Facility north of the fortress wall (possibly a castellum aquae) in the area of Second Tundzha mechanic brigade; 6 Aqueduct of Augusta Traiana, crossing the north fortress wall of the ancient city on Zhelezni Vrata str.; 7 Aquaeduct of Augusta Traiana,

crossing the north fortress wall of the ancient city on M. Metodi Kussev blvd.

42 MARIA KAMISHEVA

The captured water was thus channelled to the south, into another collecting basin, which was destroyed in the 1940s-50s during the con-struction of a power substation3.

The water intake has undergone several repairs and much refur-bishing since its cretion, but the main structure continues to be in function, even today (Николов 1979, 42). The springs at Besh Bunar are still one of the main sources for the fresh water of Stara Zagora.

Water to Augusta Traiana was delivered not only from the north, but also from the northwest – construction works in the modern city have revealed a gallery with an east-west orientation, about 1.40 m below contemporary ground level. The tunnel is 1.10 m high, with a base width of 0.65 m. It was cut into the rocky terrain without addi-tional wall reinforcement. The upper part of the gallery is vaulted. The conduit consists of clay pipes 0.52 m long and 0.14 m in diameter. It was encased by a layer of rubble and brick particles, bound in white mortar. According to the excavators, the pipes did not supply water to the ancient city, but to a nearby villa. Considering the route of the tunnel, however, it is possible to discover another detour leading to the city walls (Николов / Янков 1980, 20, обр. 4). Galleries of the same kind connect the cisterns of Eleutherna on Crete with the citadel of the town (Kelly 2006, 306).

A similar structure – a tunnel 1.60 m higt and 0.70 m wide – was found near the Hrishteni village, 5 km east of Stara Zagora. Тhe gallery was dug into the solid ground of the eastern slope of a small ravine. On its western wall there is a berm about 0.55 m above the floor. A channel is cut into the rock of the gallery floor: the channel is 0.22 m deep and 0.18 m wide, and covered with stone slabs (Николов / Янков 1980, 19, обр. 3).

An additional clay pipe conduit leading to the city is found near the village Dabrava (4 km north of Stara Zagora) (Църов 2006, 28). This is another probable water source for the ancient Augusta Traiana4.

In the course of modern construction activity in the city, multiple tunnels and masonry channels have been detected, but not sufficiently documented (map 2)5. They have been found predominantly in the western part of the city beyond the walls. In 1955 construction workers came across a duct cut into the rocky terrain; its upper part was vaulted. It was about 2.30 m high, 1.00 m wide, with an east-west orientation. Some clay pipes were also discovered6. In 1979 another channel cut into the rock was found – it had a semi-elliptic cross section, a height of 1.10 m and was oriented east-west. Its base width is 0.65 m. A conduit of clay pipes, bound in white mortar and encased in stones and bricks, was on its floor. The upper end of the channel was uncovered at 1.40 m from today’s surface level7. In 1995, a channel cut in the bedrock was inter-rupted. It was discovered a 2.50 m depth from modern terrain and was 1.20 m high and 0.70-0.80 m wide. To its north, the route of a clay pipe conduit coming from northwest could be traced. Another three stone channels were discovered, with clay pipes and a dolium used as a distri-bution shaft (fig. 1/3)8. The reuse of dolia in water delivery circuits of ancient cities has been also attested at the excavations of Kabyle (near the city of Yambol, south Bulgaria) where such a device was placed be-side the distribution well near Basilica 1 (Николов 1990, 20, фиг. 6). Evidence of galleries has also been registered in the area between Al. Batenberg str. and St. Stambolov str., near Sv. Knyaz Boris str9.

Map 1a. Location of Augusta Traiana in Bulgaria

3 This information is according to ver-bal reports provided by construction workers. Documentation of the struc-ture is missing in the Regional History Museum (RHM)-Stara Zagora.

4 The account of Mityu Hristev, inhab-itant of Dabrava village, has survived: a duct built of stones and mortar, covered with slabs and leading to Stara Zagora. Possibly, this is the same aqueduct that passes from stone masonry into pipes.

5 In the archives of the Regional History Museum of Stara Zagora information about trench supervisions in the mod-ern city and surroundings has been pre-served and recorded in a notebook with inventory number 2Сз-спф-31. The ob-servations include a short description of the device, sometimes accompanied by a sketch. On many occasions it was em-phasized that the discovered structures were still in functioning. I would like to thank my colleague Dimitar Yankov who helped me with clarifying these descrip-tions.

6 The site is on Otets Paisii blvd., across # 98. According to the reports, the con-struction workers traced the route of the duct for 100 m, and it is remarked that “…there is a drainage level of stone slabs beneath the tunnel”. Supervised by Dimitar Nikolov.

7 The site is located between Otets Paisii blvd. and Pop Mincho Kanchev str. at # 36 of the latter. Supervised by Krassimir Kalchev.

8 The site is situated along the western side of Pop Mincho Kanchev str., under Boruygrad str. Supervised by Krassimir Kalchev. The dolium is now preserved in the antiquities collection of RHM-Stara Zagora, Inv. 2Сз 2529.

9 I would like to thank my colleague Dimitar Yankov for the information.

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Map 2. Outer water supply of Augusta Traiana – galleries and canals: 1-2 Channels on Avgusta Trayana str., east and west of M. Metodi Kussev blvd.; 3 Gallery at the junction of Avgusta Trayana str. and Rakovska str., in the western part of Rakovska str.;

4 Gallery in the western part of Pop Mincho Kanchev str., under Boruygrad str.; 5 Gallery at the junction of M. Stanev str. and Bratya Zhekovi str.; 6 Gallery between Al. Batenberg str. and St. Stambolov str., near Sv. Knyaz Boris str.; 7 Gallery on Otets Paisii

blvd., across # 98; 8 Gallery between Otets Paisii blvd. and Pop Mincho Kanchev str. – on Pop Mincho Kanchev str. 36

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Galleries related to the ancient city’s water supply have been de-tected north of the fortress wall as well (Калчев 1992, 52)10. In 1987, construction trenches on Avgusta Trayana str., east and west of M. Metodi Kussev blvd., revealed a conduit built of broken stones bound in white mortar. Its preserved height is 1.10-1.20 m, and its upper end is found at 0.45 m below contemporary terrain. It is U-shaped in cross-section and runs north-south, with a slight deviation to the east. Its width is 0.60 m and its walls are covered with waterproof mortar11. Very similar to the galleries described here are those found during ex-cavations in Barcelona (Orengo / Miró 2013, 253, fig. 4c).

Evidence of collecting basins has been found north and west of the city12. One such facility was detected near the headquarters court of the Second Tundzha Division, near the north fortress wall. During repair works, a brick wall was uncovered, about 1.10 m wide, with a layer of waterproof mortar on both surfaces. A clay pipe conduit exited its lower part and continued in masonry with a north-south orientation. North of the wall was a drainage system of broken stones

Fig. 1: 1 Gallery in the Besh Bunar locality – carrying water to the collect-ing basin; 2 Canal in the gallery at the Besh Bunar locality; 3 Dolium used as a distribution shaft, west of the walled city of Augusta Traiana; 4-5 Masonry chan-nel, part of Augusta Traiana’s aqueduct, found near the Zagorka brewery (north of the ancient city)

10 The site is located at the junction of Avgusta Traiana str. and Rakovska str. The tunnel runs with an east-west ori-entation. I am grateful to my colleague Dimitar Yankov for clarifying this.

11 Supervised by Krassimir Kalchev.12 I would like to thank my colleague

Dimitar Yankov for this information. According to his account, both facilities were functional at the time of discovery.

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covered with white mortar. A second site was discovered 50 m away, north of the water source in Trite chuchura district. It bears the same characteristics as the one described above. Another conduit flowed out of it, with a north-south orientation and a branch to the south-east13.

From the intake at Besh Bunar water was transported to the city via an aqueduct (map 1). The structure is an entirely underground stone masonry channel, 0.95 m high and 0.55-0.60 m wide (fig. 1/4, 5), except near the so-called Saborena Kyupriya locality where it was raised on a bridge in order to surpass a deep ravine. The bridge con-sists of a single arch (fig. 2/1, 2). Its upper part has been destroyed (Николов 1979, 45, обр. 11). The conduit follows the natural terrain, so that water is carried away due to gravity. The route of the duct is mostly clear as far as the fortress walls, and one can suppose that the castellum aquae should be sought north of the citadel. The initial con-struction of the aqueduct is related to the building campaigns carried out in Augusta Traiana under Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE). The re-verse of a coin struck in the city mint during the reign of this same em-peror shows a deity, interpreted as a personification of Bedechka river, together with a personification of the city aqueduct. Two other emis-sions with the same iconographic theme were struck under Caracalla and Geta. In the second half of the 5th century CE, the water conduit was repaired together with the entire inner city’s water delivery system (Николов 1979, 47; Минкова 1991, 53, обр. 4).

Until recently, it has been commonly believed that the water supply entered the city at the Zhelezni Vrata str., where the aqueduct was de-tected during construction works for a residential building (Николов 1979, 47). The latest archaeological excavations identified another crossing of the wall, west of the one already known. The foundations of the aqueduct were discovered: it was partly built of slabs bound and covered in pink mortar, while the eastern side was brick-made and also bound in mortar (fig. 2/3-5). The whole structure was covered with slabs and the joints were plastered over with mortar. The fortress trench started east of this area and required additional enhancing at a width of 2.5 m at the trench bottom, and up to 3.6 m in the zone near the aqueduct. It should be noted that stones and architectural details, probably belonging to a public building, were re-used in the masonry work of the stone reinforcement from the east. Immediately next to the enhanced section other fragments of the destroyed buildings were found on the bottom of the trench and were dated to the end of the 2nd-4th centuries CE by the excavator (Янков / Илиев 2009, 397)14.

Water supply within the city walls

It is necessary to consider here a portion of a curved brick-made wall with pink mortar binding, excavated in 2008 on Zhelezni Vrata str., mentioned above (fig. 3/1). The find has been interpreted as belonging to a bath-house. The structure is located to the east of the street. While full exploration is not possible, the wall may have also been related to the water delivery system of the ancient city. Its discovery within the walled city allows us to identify it preliminarily as a castellum divisori-um (Янков 2009, 399) (map 3). Another similar structure is Cistern 7 within the auxiliary military camp at Kabyle (Николов 1990, 25, фиг. 9). A similar facility featuring a semicircular outline and connection

13 It is very likely that this device was re-lated to the monastery complex explored nearby (Буюклиев 1994, 221).

14 Probably this is the extension of the abovementioned pipe found in 1987 on Avgusta Trayana str. north of M. Metodi Kussev blvd. towards the fortress wall.

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to a stone masonry channel was explored during rescue excavations in Varna. Although the structure has been presented as castellum aquae, its manner of building and especially its location suggest that it is a castellum divisorium (Кузов / Роков 2012, 142-146)15. This is prob-ably also the identification of another facility, found in 2004, which is constructed of two rows of stone blocks, their inner surfaces covered with waterproof mortar. It is situated in the northeast corner of the studied area, and only its western wall has been revealed completely (fig. 3/2, 3). The structure is 8.25 m long and 1.62 m wide, and the stone blocks have dowel nests for lead binding. The façade part of the masonry was worked with precision (fig. 3/4), and the flooring was made of stone slabs. South of the facility were found two clay pipe ducts, and, to its north, a stone channel, all of which run with an east-west course (Калчев 2005, 222)16.

From the castellum divisorium water was distributed via masonry channels, connected to settling basins and clay conduits (map 3/4). In the vicinity of the north fortress wall and beside the devices already mentioned (aqueduct and reservoir), a small part of a stone channel with a settling basin was discovered, covered on the inner side with

Fig. 2: 1-2 Bridge structure from the Augusta Traiana aqueduct in the Saborenata Kyupriya locality (north of the ancient city); 3-5 Augusta Traiana aqueduct, crossing the north fortress wall of the ancient city

15 On such opinion is also Dr. Ivan Tsarov (RHM-Veliko Tarnovo), to whom I am sincerely grateful for the help and advice in the process of writing this pa-per.

16 Due to the untimely death of Krassimir Kalchev, the documentation of this site remained incomplete. The site was located on Zhelezni Vrata str. #18-20, along the eastern sidewalk and south of the abovementioned facility.

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waterproof mortar (fig. 4/1). The channel has a V-shaped cross-sec-tion and is 0.50-0.62 m wide (fig. 4/2, 3). If we accept the typology and dating of such structures after Biernacka-Lubanska, the initial con-struction of the channel should be dated after the mid-2nd century CE (Биернацка-Любанска 1971, 12, обр. 11-IV) – i.e. the time of build-ing benefactions in Augusta Traiana. The facilities were covered with stone slabs (Янков / Илиев 2008, 740, обр. 1). Most likely, the channel continues in a southwest direction, where there is a section of another stone channel with a length over 7 m and a width of 0.70-0.78 m. In this part of its route, the conduit has a rectangular cross-section and is again covered with stone slabs. It is 1.02 m deep and 0.75 m wide (fig. 4/4). The walls were plastered with hydrophobic mortar (Камишева 2008b, 414-415). Most probably, the channel was initially vaulted, but later covered with slabs after a reconstruction. The incrustations on the bottom can be noticed in two layers: from 0-0.32 m; and from 0.32-0.73 m. Considering the channel gradient of approximately 1%, at an incrustation of 0.32 m above the floor, the volume of water deliv-ered is ~ 72.6 m3 for 24 hours; and at the 0.73 m incrustation ~ 309 m3 for 24 hours. Perhaps we should accept that 72.6 m3 was the amount of water supplied over a longer period of time, while 309 m3 should demonstrate the constructive capacity of the channel during the first

Map 3. Inner water supply – main channels and basins: 1 Facility, probably a castellum divisorium, Zhelezni Vrata str. 42; 2 Facility, probably a castellum divisorium, Zhelezni Vrata str. 20; 3 Water supply facilities (channel and shaft) on Zhelezni Vrata

str. 31; 4 Masonry channel with a northeast-southwest orientation, and a distribution and settling basin on Boruygrad str. 49; 5 Masonry vaulted channel and distribution basins on H.D. Assenov str. 108; 6 Masonry channel on H. D. Assenov str. 114;

7 Masonry channel on H. D. Assenov str.112; 8 Distribution and settling basins on Sava Silov str. / V. Levski str.; 9 Distribution basin on Zhelezni Vrata str. 9; 10 Distribution basin on Tsar Ivan Assen II str. 152;

11 Distribution basin on Tsar Ivan Assen II str. 150; 12 Distribution basin at the Mladezhki Dom site

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period of its use, while it was still vaulted17. The essential consideration in both cases is the significant amount of incrustations on the walls and the floor. This might be related to the long use of such devices, which survived even into the 19th century, when water flow was no longer running continuously.

This was likely one of the main routes in Augusta Traiana and was connected to the water distribution in the western part of the walled city. It is possible that its course continued along the wall and exited the fortified city below the western gate. In this section the conduit is a clay pipeline with a large cross section. An arch (fig. 4/5) was built in the internal fortress wall at the point of the aqueduct’s cross-ing (probably in order to avoid breaking of the pipes), which would suggest the simultaneous construction of the internal wall and the conduit18. Excavations in 2012, again in the same area, have revealed the course of another masonry duct, which was initially built of bricks

Fig. 3: 1 Facility inside the fortress wall, most probably a castellum divisorium, Zhelezni Vrata str. 42; 2-3 Facility in-side the fortress wall, most probably a castellum divisorium, Zhelezni Vrata str. 20; 4 Facility inside the fortress wall, most probably a castellum divisorium, Zhelezni Vrata str. 20 – plan (author Krassimir Kalchev)

17 I would like to thank Dr. Ivan Tsarov (RHM-Veliko Tarnovo) for the calcula-tions and notes on terminology.

18 Trench trials were conducted in 1975 near the western gate and in the space between the fortress walls. The results are unpublished. I owe the verbal infor-mation to my colleague Dimitar Yankov, whom I would like to thank here.

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and vaulted (fig. 4/6, 7). In later reconstructions, it was partly cov-ered with large stone slabs (Камишева 2013, 331-332, обр. 2-3). Its route was detected to the north during archaeological campaigns in 200019 and 2003 (Калчев 2004, 141). Apart from this type of facility, also attested at Augusta Traiana are water conduits made of segment-ed bricks with a round section (fig. 5/1, 2) (Буюклиев et al. 1986, 75; Буюклиев et al. 1987, 130; Камишева 2013, 331-332, обр. 2-3) and brick-made conduits with a rectangular section, their floors, in some cases, made of tegulae (Николов / Калчев 1988, 47; Камишева 2008а, 410; 2008b, 415; 2008с, 419).

A complex system of clay pipes and shafts facilitated the water supply to the buildings inside the city (map 3/4). Тhese pipes were placed beneath the street network and near the sidewalks, and some

Fig. 4: 1 Water supply facilities (channel and shaft) on Zhelezni Vrata str. 31; 2-3 Channel of a water delivery device on Zhelezni Vrata str. 31; 4 Channel with a northeast-southwest orientation on Boruygrad str. 49; 5 The crossing point of the fortress wall under the western gate by a clay water pipe; 6-7 Masonry vaulted channel on H. D. Assenov str. 108

19 The results of these excavations are still unpublished.

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are also found within the insulae. Usually they are detected at about 0.40-0.60 m depth below the street pavement – much shallower than in Philippopolis (Николов 1979, 37; Николов / Калчев 1985, 37; Кесякова 1999, 106). Normally, they follow the natural terrain, and the ancient city’s topography helped water delivery. The use of water resources was subject to multiple laws that treated various aspects of transportation, debit, security, and punishment of deliberate damage and theft. Public outlets and fountains were supplied for free, while consumption of fresh water was subject to a certain fee. Some well-deserving citizens were privileged in their access (Front. II, 94).

The establishment of the water supply network in Augusta Traiana was closely related to city planning and shaping of streets and insulae. Several types of clay pipes,with varying lengths and di-ameters, were used for the conduits, and it cannot be discerned with certainty to what period each of them belong (Николов 1979, 37-38). It is worth to mentioning the clay pipe angle joints discovered in recent years (fig. 5/3, 4). They were installed at places where the con-duit made a right angle turn, or used when supplying water to outlet faucets (Камишева 2008b, 415; 2010а, 399). The pipes were linked to numerous settling and distribution shafts, which were set at a dis-tance of 5 to 8 m from each other. The two types of shafts were built in a similar way: they were brick-made and covered with waterproof mortar, and they were most often square in shape. Distribution shafts

Fig. 5: 1 Duct of segmented bricks on H. D. Assenov str. 108; 2 Duct of seg-mented bricks on Central square (east of the forum); 3 Clay pipe shaped as an angle joint on Boruygrad str. 49; 4 Clay pipe shaped as an angle joint on Zhelezni Vrata str. 36

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are usually placed near the settling basins (fig. 6/1-3) (Николов / Калчев 1988, 47; Камишева 2007а, 295, обр. 1; 2008b, 415, обр. 1; 2009, 405, обр. 2; Илиев 2012, 346; Камишева 2013а, 332, обр. 1-2; 2013b, 333, обр. 3).

Due to various circumstances, the end of the 4th and beginning of the 5th century CE saw a major change and reconstruction of the wa-ter supply system. The need for such renovation could be attributed to damage from an earthquake or another natural disaster. Theophanes records a series of earthquakes that caused major damage in the pe-riod 342/343 – 366-368 CE (Орачев 2011, 126-128). During this period, a significant part of the water supply network of Augusta Traiana was renovated. New courses of clay pipes, which largely fol-lowed the routes of previous ones to a great extent, were traced, but placed less deeply (fig. 6/4) (Янков / Камишева 2006а, 276; 2006b, 278-279; Камишева 2009, 405, обр. 1; 2013, 332, обр. 20). Similar observations have been made regarding the water delivery network of

Fig. 6: 1 Distribution and settling basins on Sava Silov str. / V. Levski str. – plan (authors Maria Kamisheva / Mariana Ginzarova); 2 Distribution and settling basins on Boruygrad str. 49; 3 Settling basin on Boruygrad str. 49; 4 System of clay pipes and shafts on H. D. Assenov str. 108

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Odessos / now the city of Varna on Bulgarian Black Sea coast (Кузов 2007, 34-37).

Apart from the widely used clay pipes, lead and bronze are also utilized in Augusta Traiana. Lead pipes are mostly used when pools or outlets are connected to the central network. Probably due to the fact that lead was an expensive material, such pipes are not very common (fig. 7/1) (Николов 1974, 12; 1979, 38, обр. 3; Янков 2012, 344).

The bronze pipes known from Augusta Traiana were not discov-ered during archaeological campaigns. They belonged to a larger set of 61 pieces given to the collection of the National Archaeological Institute in 1907 (Ilieva / Cholakov 2005, 51). According to Ilieva and Cholakov, these items came from the inventory of a bronze-casting workshop – possibly some of them were meant to be melted for raw material, while others were produced there. The pipes are five in total, and each of them bears and incised sign that signifies the pipe position in a common system (fig. 7/2). Their length varies from 26 to 29 cm; external diameter from 5.9-4.8 to 5-4.4 cm; inner diameter from 4.4 to 5 cm. The tight end of two of the pipes is a plug, and the wider one

Fig. 7: 1 Lead pipe at the base of the piscina on Irechek str. 38; 2 Bronze pipes from a collective find from Stara Zagora; 3 Faucet (dispensing tap?) from a collective find from Stara Zagora

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is a socket. All tubes bear signatures, and three of them are numbered with II, III and IIII (fig. 7/2) (Ilieva / Cholakov 2005, 62-63, fig. 39). Even more remarkable is the other bronze item related to water supply: a faucet or a dispensing tap (fig. 7/3). The preserved height is 12 cm, length is 12 cm, inner diameter of side openings is 2.5 cm, and wall thickness is 2-3.5 mm. It consists of two parts, a cross-shaped external one and, on the inside, a rotating cylinder with an opening in the mid-dle. The upper end of the cylinder contains a hole that allows the rota-tion of the plug, i.e. it can turn on or stop the water flow. The remain-ing part of the section is entirely filled with lead, which may point to the ultimate use of the device as a stopcock (Ilieva / Cholakov 2005, 63, fig. 40). The excavations of Pompeii below the garden of The House of the Little Bronze Bull have yielded a lead water distribution device, to which similar taps were attached20. The dispensing tap and pump (?) stored respectively in the Museo della Civiltà Romana (Rome, Italy)21 and in the British Museum (London, United Kingdom)22 (Mays 2010, 132, fig. 7/18), possess almost identical characteristics with the devices found in Stara Zagora. They are dated roughly to the 3rd century CE. Bronze pipes (calices) were used as meter taps. They were placed in a duct or a reservoir and service pipes were attached to them. The opening had a specific capacity that determined the amount of inflow (Front. I, 36). Bronze pipes used in water supply are extremely rare, and their discovery in a city far from the capital would suggest solid contacts with central authorities. Where exactly in the water delivery system of Augusta Traiana these pipes were used, however, still re-mains an open question.

Augusta Traiana also features additional water sources, such as street taps and wells (map 4). Wells are found in places of higher groundwater levels. They usually take the form of shafts that reach as deep as the groundwater, and were eventually built of stones. Stone rings define their openings (fig. 8/1, 2) (Буюклиев et al. 1989, 92; Калчев 1992, 52; Камишева 2008а, 411-412). It is worth noting the well found south of decumanus maximus. The space around it was designed with four bases, which suggest roofing. The well had a specially designated place in the insula, with an entrance from the east and the cardo (fig. 8/3) (Буюклиев et al. 1988а, 92; Калчев 1992, 52, обр. 5). The existence of groundwater caused the construction of intakes used for additional water supply of some consumers (Николов / Калчев 1988, 47).

In the insulae, the water pipes end as outlets or pools in wealthier houses (Николов 1979, 38-39; Калчев 2002, 103-104). Outlets are usually accompanied by fountain beds (Камишева 2010а, 399, обр. 2) (fig. 8/4) or decorated with architectural elements, either crafted especially for the purpose or reused and adjusted for this purpose (Камишева 2007b, 300) (fig. 8/5-8).

The pools discovered in Stara Zagora fall into two types: basins within residential buildings or in courtyards (map 4). To the first type belong the open-air piscinae basins, surrounded by mosaic floors (Николов 1979, 39; Буюклиев et al. 1990, 95; Янков 2012, 344). They are shaped as an octagon with a floor made of bricks or marble, to which water was supplied via a lead pipe (fig. 9/1, 2). Around one of them, a spillway of marble tiles in a matching shape was constructed. The other basin has a brick rim. The construction of these facilities was planned beforehand and with consideration to the mosaic floor-

20 http://vico.wikispaces.com/Water+Supply+and+Sanitation (accessed in October 2014).

21 http://lwmays.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/hydraulic-devices/ (accessed in October 2014).

22 http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=399918&partId=1&searchText=pump&page=1 (accessed in October 2014).

54 MARIA KAMISHEVA

ing. It is necessary to note that these are among the finest mosaic sam-ples of Augusta Traiana.

The courtyard pools are an interesting architectural element of the second construction phase of the ancient city, dating to the 3rd and beginning of the 4th century CE. They are usually rectangular in shape, built of bricks, and bound in pink mortar. These basins were linked to a system of channels and ducts that supplied and drained water, thus not allowing it to still. Outlets were placed around some of them (Камишева 2007b, 300, обр. 2) and were used as recreational venues (Камишева 2010b, 401) (fig. 9/3, 4).

More fascinating in terms of construction and purpose are the pools with artificial recesses for fish keeping. Such facilities were dis-covered in the courtyard of a building situated next to the southern gate and east of cardo maximus23, and at the monastery complex in the Trite chuchura district. The former was part of a vast peristyle court, with porticoes to the west and south, with a mosaic floor beneath the south one (Буюклиев et al. 1988b, 94; Калчев 1992, 54, обр. 9; Янков / Камишева 2009, 394, обр. 1) (fig. 9/5). The pool is rectangular, with dimensions of 19 х 5 m. It was supplied with water from north-west, and drained via a canal that runs along the south stylobate. Two rows of pots were built into its walls and served as cavities for the fish to hide.

Map 4. Inner water supply – clay pipes, wells and pools: 1 Aqueduct of segmented bricks and clay pipes on H. D. Assenov str. 108; 2 Aqueduct of segmented bricks at the Central square site; 3 Clay pipes on Zhelezni Vrata str. 42; 4 Clay pipes on Boruygrad str. 49; 5 Clay pipes and an outlet on Zhelezni Vrata str. 36; 6 Clay pipes on Zhelezni Vrata str. 9; 7 Clay pipes on Tsar Ivan Assen II str. 152; 8 Clay pipes on Tsar Ivan Assen II str.150; 9 Clay pipes on Sava Silov str. / V. Levski str.; 10 Clay pipes on Sava Silov str., # 81-83; 11 Clay pipes on Gen. Stoletov blvd. / H. D. Assenov str.; 12 Clay pipe, crossing the fortress wall under the western gate; 13 Clay pipes at the Mladezhki Dom site; 14 Well at the Central square site; 15 Well on D. Naumov str.; 16 Outlet and pool on M. Metodi Kussev blvd. / V. Levski str.; 17 Pool with artificial recesses for fish keeping – lapidarium of RHM – Stara Zagora; 18 Pool and piscina in a

mosaic floored hall on Irechek str. 38; 19 Piscina in a mosaic floored hall on Gen. Stoletov blvd.

23 Currently the basin is exhibited in the lapidarium of RHM-Stara Zagora.

THE WATER SUPPLY OF AugusTA TrAiAnA 55

In the monastery complex discovered during excavations in the Trite chuchura district, two such pools were found. Basin 1 was found east of the apsis of the Early-Christian Basilica 1, and was dated to the mid-second half of the 4th century CE. It was dug into the terrain at a depth of 0.40 m. Shaped as an irregular polygon, its long axis is ori-ented north-south, and the overall dimensions are 10.5 x 6.5 m. The basin is made of stones and mortar with brick particles. In its south wall built-in clay pipes are arranged horizontally at an interval of 0.50-0.75 m. In the corners of the pool there are rectangular niches. A great amount of shells were found in the pipes, on the floor and in the niches of the pool (Буюклиев 1994, 223).

Basin 2 was uncovered south of the baptisterium, upon a larger part of Basilica 1, and it dates to the second half of the 5th century. It is rectangular in shape, with the long axis oriented east-west. It was dug to 1.80 m below terrain and was constructed of broken stones, bound in mortar and fragmented brick. The eastern half was wholly

Fig. 8: 1 Well on D. Naumov str.; 2 Well ring on D. Naumov str.; 3 Well on the Central square (east of the forum); 4 Fountain bed of the outlet on Zhelezni vrata str. 36; 5 River god – fountain decoration; 6 Ara for an outlet on M. Metodi Kussev blvd. / V. Levski str.; 7 Ara for an outlet; 8 Ara with an hon-orary inscription, reused for an outlet

56 MARIA KAMISHEVA

incorporated into Basin 1. The pool has a total length of 27.50 m and width of 14 m, with an estimated volume of 650 m3. Along its north and east walls ceramic pots were built in, mouths open to-wards the basin. Pots were placed at an interval of 0.60-0.70 m. The pool contained drinkable water delivered by a clay duct from the near spring. Multiple shells were found on the floor of the pool and inside the pots (Буюклиев 1994, 226-228, обр. 3). Scholars note that apart from their aesthetic function, both pools were used for fish and mussel keeping.

According to the narrations by Varro and Columella, the so-called fishponds were already particularly popular as early as the 1st century BCE. Many such facilities were constructed in the proximity of sea gulfs or villas24. Small vessels were placed in their walls (little amphorae) so that the fish could find shelter inside25. While fishponds were used for farming purposes in the first few centuries after their emergence, they gradually turned into a symbol of prestige for their owners.

Fig. 9: 1 Piscina in the mosaic floor on Gen. Stoletov str.; 2 Piscina in the mo-saic floor on Ircehek str. 18; 3 Pool on M. Metodi Kussev blvd. / V. Levski str.; 4 Pool on Irechek str. 38; 5 Pool with artificial recesses for fish keeping – lapi-darium of RHM – Stara Zagora

24 http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/wine/piscinae.html (accessed in October 2014).

25 http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/7/aquaculture (accessed in October 2014).

THE WATER SUPPLY OF AugusTA TrAiAnA 57

ConclusionSeveral conclusions can be drawn from this overview:

1. The water supply to the ancient city was conducted from the north and north-west. Natural springs were used for the purpose – they were captured by intakes, and some of them are still in use today. They are no different from those excavated near Philippopolis and other ancient cities. With the use of natural gradients water was transported via aqueducts to the city, where it was stored in castellum aquae.

2. Within the city frame, the water flowed to the castellum diviso-rium – it is possible that two such structures have been discovered to date. The water was then transported to consumers in the insulae via masonry conduits.

3. Water delivery to the buildings of the inner city was carried out through a complex system of clay pipes and shafts. In some cases, lead pipes were used (when connecting pools or fountains to the central wa-ter supply network). Towards the end of the 4th and beginning of the 5th century the system was almost fully refurbished. New pipe courses were traced, which largely repeated the older ones, but were placed at a lesser depth. Outlets and wells were used as additional water sources. Some bronze pipes discovered were employed in the regulation of water serv-ices, with a function similar to that of a water meter. Placed at various angles and gradients, they could manage greater or lesser water flow. Their precise role in Augusta Traiana’s water supply is yet unclear.

4. The pools within buildings featured in the interior of large halls that were most probably used for the reception of visitors. All three discovered so far have an octagonal shape and mosaic floors around them. The supply of such facilities happened via pipes, with the one nearest to the pool usually made of lead.

5. One remarkable element in the organization of inter-residential spaces is the existence of pools with artificial cavities for fish keeping. The pools discovered thus far in Stara Zagora can be divided into two groups. The first one is the fishpond basin with an entirely utilitarian use (the two pools found in the monastery complex in Trite Chuchura district) and the second was used for decorative fish keeping (the pond found east of the cardo maximus). The survey is at an initial stage and so far no precise conclusions about their emergence in Augusta Traiana can be made.

The construction and use of water supply facilities in Roman times, just like today, is crucial for the life of a settlement. By improve-ment of already known techniques, the Roman engineers constructed devices that were continuously used, and remain partly functional even 2000 years later.

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THE WATER SUPPLY OF AugusTA TrAiAnA 59

Водоснабдяването на Августа ТраянаМария КАМИШЕВА

Проблемът за водоснабдяването на античните градове и в частност на Августа Траяна (днес Стара Загора) е разглеждан много пъти през изминалите години. В повечето случаи се засягат отделни аспекти от този въпрос, като до момента е публикувано едно обобщено изследване (Николов 1979). Данните за водоснабдяването на Августа Траяна значително се обогатиха през последните години поради интензивното строителство в зоната на Археологическия резерват „Августа Траяна-Верея-Стара Загора“. Това налага преразглеждане на някои вече публикувани предположения и допълването им с новите данни.

Основният водоизточник, който снабдява античния град с вода, се намира в м. „Беш бунар“ – на около 3 км северно от града (карта 1). Водата от пет кладенеца се събира в каптаж (фиг. 1/1, 2). Освен северно от Августа Траяна, към античния град се дос-тавя вода и от северозапад. При съвременното строителство на много места в града са засечени галерии и зидани канали, нами-ращи се извън крепостните стени (карта 2).

От каптажа в м. „Беш бунар“ водата е транспортирана до гра-да чрез акведукт. Той представлява зидан канал и е изцяло под-

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60 MARIA KAMISHEVA

земен. Само при т. нар. „Съборена кюприя“, той е изграден вър-ху мостово съоръжение, преодоляващо дълбоко дере (фиг. 2/1, 2). Трасето му до крепостните стени е в голяма степен уточнено, като се предполага, че северно от укрепената територия е изгра-ден castellum aquae. До момента са установени две места на пре-сичане на крепостната стена от север.

Във вътрешността на укрепената територия са разкрити две съоръжения, които по своя характер могат да се интерпретират като castellum divisorium (фиг. 3). От него водата се разпределя в зидани канали (фиг. 4, 5/1, 2), свързани с утаителни и разпреде-лителни шахти (фиг. 6/1, 3) и керамични водопроводи (фиг. 5/3, 4, 6/4) (карта 3/4).

Първоначалното изграждане на водоснабдителната мрежа в града е тясно свързано с градското планиране и оформянето на улиците и инсулите. Водоснабдяването на сградите във вътреш-ността на града се извършва от сложна система от керамични тръби. Те са разположени под уличното платно и в близост до тротоарите, като някои се откриват и в инсулите. Обикновено следват естествения наклон на терена, за което допълнително спомага и разположението на античния град.

Освен широко разпространените керамични тръби, при водо-снабдяването на Августа Траяна са използвани оловни и бронзови. Оловните тръби са употребявани главно при свързването на ба-сейни или чешми към централната водоснабдителна мрежа (фиг. 7/1). Бронзовите тръби (calices) се използват като мерителни (фиг. 7/2, 3). Те се поставят в провод или резервоар и към тях се прикачат сервизни тръби. Открит за момента остава въпросът, къде точно във водоснабдителната система на Августа Траяна са прилагани.

Освен чрез доставяната по водопроводите вода, като допъл-нителни водоизточници в Августа Траяна са използвани множе-ство чешми и кладенци. Кладенците се откриват на места, където подпочвените води са с високо ниво (фиг. 8/1-3). Представляват шахта, достигаща до нивото на подпочвената вода, която във ви-сочина е изградена с камъни. Гърлата им са оформени с каменни пръстени. В инсулите водопроводите завършват с чешми или ба-сейни при по-богатите домове. Чешмите се оформят като корита или с архитектурни елементи – специално изработени за целта (фиг. 8/4-6) или преизползвани/пригодени (фиг. 8/7, 8).

Басейните, открити при проучванията в Стара Загора, могат да се разделят на два типа: басейни в жилищни сгради и басейни във вътрешни дворове. Към първия тип спадат откритите басей-ни-писцини, около които са оформени мозаични подове. Те пред-ставляват осмоъгълник с мраморен или тухлен под и се захранват с вода посредством оловна тръба (фиг. 9/1, 2). Изграждането им е предварително планирано и съобразено с поставянето на мозай-ките. Басейните във вътрешните дворове са интересен елемент от архитектурата на втория строителен период на римския град, кой-то обхваща III – началото на IV в. Те са обикновено с правоъгълна форма, изградени от тухли, споени с розов хоросан (фиг. 9/3, 4). Свързани са със система от канали и водопроводи, които доставят и отвеждат водата, като не £ позволяват да се застоява. Около ня-кои от тях са поставяни чешми или са използвани за почивка.

По-интересни по изпълнение и предназначение са басейните с оформени изкуствени подмоли за риби. Те са открити при проуч-ването на дворното пространство на сграда, намираща се в непо-

THE WATER SUPPLY OF AugusTA TrAiAnA 61

средствена близост до южната порта и източно от cardo maximus (фиг. 9/5), и при манастирския комплекс в кв. „Три чучура“.

След така направения преглед се налагат следните обобщения:1. Водоснабдяването на античния град се извършва от север-

на и северозападна посоки, като се използват естествени извори, оформени като каптажи, някои от които се употребяват и до мо-мента. Те не се различават от разкритите такива около Филипопол (днес Пловдив) и други римски градове. Използвайки естестве-ния наклон на терена, водата посредством акведукт се транспор-тира до града, където се съхранява в castellum aquae.

2. Във вътрешността на града водата преминава в castellum divisorium, като разкритите до момента предполагаеми съоръже-ния с такава функция са две. По зидани водопроводи водата се транспортира до потребителите в инсулите.

3. Водоснабдяването на сградите във вътрешността на града се извършва от сложна система от керамични тръби и шахти. При определени случаи се използват и оловни тръби (при свързването на басейни или чешми към централната водоснабдителна мрежа). Около края на IV – началото на V век е извършена почти пълна промяна и реконструкция на водопроводната система на антич-ния град. Поставени са нови трасета от керамични тръби, които в голяма степен повтарят старите, но се откриват на по-малка дълбочина от тях. Като допълнителни водоизточници в Августа Траяна са използвани множество чешми и кладенци. Откритите бронзови тръби са се използвали за регулиране на водоподава-нето, играейки ролята на своеобразен водомер. Поставени под различен ъгъл и наклон, те пропускат по-малко или по-голямо количество вода. До момента все още не е установено къде е тях-ното място във водоснабдяването на Августа Траяна.

4. Басейните в сградите оформят вътрешното пространство на помещения, които вероятно са използвани за приемни. И в трите разкрити до момента случая те са с осмоъгълна форма и около тях е разположен мозаичен под. Захранването на този тип съоръжения става посредством тръби, като последната до басей-ните е изработена от олово.

5. Интересен елемент от оформянето на междусградното прос-транство представляват басейните с изкуствени подмоли за риби. Откритите при археологическите проучвания в Стара Загора съо-ръжения могат да се разделят на два типа. Единият, изпълняващ чисто стопански функции – рибарник (двата басейна, открити в манастирския комплекс в кв. „Три чучура“), и втори, използван за отглеждане на декоративни риби (басейнът, открит източно от car-do maximus). Изследването им е в начален етап и за момента не мо-гат да се направят точни изводи за тяхната поява в Августа Траяна.

Изграждането и експлоатацията на водопреносни и водо-снабдителни съоръжения, както в днешно време, така и през римската епоха е от изключителна важност за живота в дадено населено място. Доразвивайки познати вече технологии в строи-телството, римските инженери построяват трайни съоръжения, които функционират дори и след две хиляди години.

Maria Kamisheva MARegional History Museum42, Ruski Blvd.BG-6000 Stara Zagoramaria.ivanowa@gmail.com

62 MARIA KAMISHEVA