Ancient Roman Water Engineering in Southern France
Located just outside picturesque Arles, France, the Barbegal flour mill and its aqueduct system are ancient Roman engineering masterpieces.  The mill site is the only known example from antiquity employing 16 waterwheels.  As the first industrial-scale use of water power, the mill at Barbegal demonstrates the Roman's mastery of public works engineering. Recent WPI field investigations have resulted in water quality data for the springs that fed the aqueducts.  Look for early 2006 publications detailing water quality in the system and Roman culvert design.
Example of Roman construction of aqueduct arches. 
Aqueduct traversing Roman countryside.
View of room adjacent to waterwheel.  Millstone would have ground grain here in antiquity.
Aqueduct and arches ruins in the Vallon des Arches.
View looking south down the Vallon des Arches.
Arches spanning the Vallon des Arches extends towards the Rochers de la Pene.
North view amid rubble in the Vallon des Arches.
Carving found near aqueduct in the Vallon des Arches.
North view along the Vallon des Arches.
Present-day road intersects ancient aqueduct.
View of the mill overlooking the Plain of the Crau.
Les Baux castle.
Simian bridge looking east.
Arches in the Vallon des Arches.
Example of Roman construction technique and masonry.
Portion of Simian bridge constructed in several phases.
Characteristic limestone bedding plane of region.
View overlooking road along Vallon des Arches.

 

 

Example of Roman repairs on Simian culvert.