Barbegal aqueduct and mill
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Barbegal aqueduct and mill is a Roman water-mill complex mills near the town of Arles, France. The complex has been refered to as "the greatest known concentration of mechanical power in the ancient world".[1]
Contents |
[edit] Description
Today, the Barbegal aqueduct and mill are the vestiges of a Roman aqueduct that was built to supply drinking water from the mountain chain of the Alpilles to the town of Arles, France on the Rhône River. Just outside of Arles near the village of Barbegal, where the aqueduct arrived at a steep hill, the aqueduct fed a series of parallel waterwheels to power a flourmill. The mill consisted of eight waterwheels in each of the two rows. Vestiges of the mill also remain. The mill operated from the beginning of the 2nd century until about the end of the 3rd century.[2] The capacity of the mills has been estimated at 4.5 tons of flour per day, sufficient to supply enough bread for the 12,500 inhabitants occupying the town of Arles at that time.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Kevin Greene, “Technological Innovation and Economic Progress in the Ancient World: M.I. Finley Re-Considered”, The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 53, No. 1. (Feb., 2000), pp. 29-59 (39)
- ^ http://www.patrimoine.ville-arles.fr/arles/ville.cfm?action=edifice_histoire&id=95
- ^ http://www.etab.ac-caen.fr/lescourtils/provence/barbegal.htm
[edit] Further reading
- Amouretti, M.-C.: 'Barbegal: de l'histoire des fouilles a l'histoire des moulins', Provence Historique, 167-8 (1992), pp.135-49
- Bellamy, R. B. & Hitchner, P.- S.: 'The villas of the Vallee des Baux and the Barbegal Mill: excavations at la Merindole villa and cemetery', Journal of Roman Archaeology 9 (1996), pp.154-76
- Benoit, F.: 'L'usine de meunerie hydraulique de Barbegal (Arles)', Revue Archeologique, sixieme serie 15.1 (1940), pp.19-80
- Hodge, A.T.: 'A Roman factory', Scientific American (November 1990), pp.58-64
- Leveau, P.: 'The Barbegal water-mill in its environment: archaeology and the economic and social history of antiquity', Journal of Roman Archaeology 9 (1996), pp.137-53
- Sagui, C.L.: 'La meunerie de Barbegal (France) et les roues hydrauliques chez les anciens et au moyen age', Isis, Vol. 38, No. 314. (Feb., 1948), pp. 225-231
- Sellin, R.H.J.: The large Roman water mill at Barbegal (France), History of Technology, 8, 1983, pp. 91-109
[edit] External links
- The Roman Flour Mill at Barbegal
- The Report of Field Investigations of the Barbegal Mill and Aqueduct System
- Les moulins de Barbegal (1986-2006) (French).
 |
This article about a French building or structure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
