Aqueduct deposits suggest Plague of Cyprian may have emptied Nîmes around 270 A.D.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have gleaned new insights into ancient water management in the French region around Nîmes by analyzing carbonate deposits within the Roman aqueduct that features the famous Pont du Gard bridge. Among other findings, the aqueduct—built around 50 A.D.—was expanded to include an additional water source after 11 years of operation; this event…
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have discovered new information about ancient water management in the Nîmes region by studying carbonate deposits in the Roman aqueduct, which features the famous Pont du Gard bridge. The aqueduct was built around 50 A.D. and expanded after 11 years of operation due to a dry spell, as documented by changes in the carbonate layers.
A century later, the water supply to the city was deliberately reduced, possibly as water was diverted to agricultural lands. Another 120 years later, the urban water supply stopped completely, coinciding with a vast economic crisis and the Plague of Cyprian (250–270 A.D.). The city likely experienced depopulation due to the plague, making the water supply unnecessary.
The carbonate deposits provide insights into water interventions, social unrest, and the impact of the plague on Nîmes.
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