List of Roman dams and reservoirs
Cornalvo Dam in Spain, erected in the 1st–2nd century AD
Proserpina Dam, near Mérida, Spain
This is a list of Roman dams and reservoirs. The study of Roman dam-building has received little scholarly attention in comparison to their other civil engineering activities,[1] even though their contributions in this field have been ranked alongside their expertise in constructing the well-known Roman aqueducts, bridges, and roads.[2]
Roman dam construction began in earnest in the early imperial period.[3] For the most part, it concentrated on the semi-arid fringe of the empire, namely the provinces of North Africa, the Near East, and Hispania.[4] The relative abundance of Spanish dams below is due partly to more intensive field work there; for Italy only the Subiaco Dams, created by emperor Nero (54–68 AD) for recreational purposes, are attested.[5] These dams are noteworthy, though, for their extraordinary height, which remained unsurpassed anywhere in the world until the Late Middle Ages.[3]
The most frequent dam types were earth- or rock-filled embankment dams and masonry gravity dams.[6] These served a wide array of purposes, such as irrigation, flood control, river diversion, soil-retention, or a combination of these functions.[7] In this, Roman engineering did not differ fundamentally from the practices of older hydraulic societies.
"The Romans' ability to plan and organise engineering construction on a grand scale" gave their dam construction special distinction.[8] Their engineering prowess, therefore, facilitated the construction of large and novel reservoir dams, which secured a permanent water supply for urban settlements even during the dry season, a common concept today, but little-understood and -employed in ancient times.[9]
The impermeability of Roman dams was increased by the introduction of waterproof hydraulic mortar and especially opus caementicium in the Concrete Revolution. These materials also allowed for bigger structures to be built,[8] like the Lake Homs Dam, possibly the largest water barrier to date,[10] and the sturdy Harbaqa Dam, both of which consist of a concrete core.
On the whole, Roman dam engineering displayed a high degree of completeness and innovativeness.[8] While hitherto dams relied solely on their heavy weight to resist the thrust of water, Roman builders were the first to realize the stabilizing effect of arches and buttresses, which they integrated into their dam designs. Previously unknown dam types introduced by the Romans include:
arch-gravity dams [11]
arch dams [12]
buttress dams [13]
multiple-arch buttress dams [14]
The origin of the so-called weir bridges, which were to become a popular design in Iran thereafter, can also be traced to the forced labour of Roman prisoners of war (see Band-e Kaisar).[15]
Contents
1 List
2 See also
3 References
4 Sources
5 Further reading
6 External links
List
This list is sorted by maximum height. All measurements are in m; in case of differing values, more recent respectively more detailed studies were given preference. In earth dams, thickness refers to the masonry wall.
Height | Thickness | Crest length | Name | Country | Date | Type / Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 | 13.5 | 1170? | Subiaco Dams [16] | Italy | 54–68 AD | Gravity dam. Devised as pleasure lake for Nero, the dam was the highest in the Roman Empire,[17] and in the world until its destruction in 1305.[3] |
34.0 | 38.0 | 1120.0 | Almonacid de la Cuba Dam [18] | Spain | 1st c. | Gravity dam |
28.0 | 26.0 | 1194.0 | Cornalvo Dam [18] | Spain | 1st–2nd c. | Gravity dam, still in use |
21.6 | 15.9 | 1427.8 | Proserpina Dam [18] | Spain | 1st–2nd c. | Gravity dam, still in use |
21 | 1? | 1365 | Harbaqa Dam [19] | Syria | 2nd c. | Gravity dam |
20.0 | 14.0? | >800.0 | Alcantarilla Dam [18] | Spain | 1st c. | Gravity dam |
16.6 | 16.9 | 1180.0 | Ermita de la Virgen del Pilar Dam [18] | Spain | 1st–2nd c. | Gravity dam |
16 | 1? | 1140 | Orükaya [20] | Turkey | 2nd c. | Arch-gravity dam[21] |
13.0 | 17.0? | 1160.0 | Muel Dam [18] | Spain | 1st c. | Gravity dam |
12 | 13.9 | 1118 | Glanum Dam [22] | France | 1st c. BC | Arch dam, earliest known[12] |
12 | 1? | 1130 | Löstügun [23] | Turkey | 6th c. | Gravity dam |
10 | 17.3 | 1150 | Kasserine Dam [24] | Tunisia | 2nd c. | Arch-gravity dam[21] |
18.4 | 12.7 | 1168.0 | La Pared de los Moros [18] | Spain | 3rd c. | Gravity dam |
17.0 | 12.0 | 1150.0 | Arroyo Salado [18] | Spain | ? | Gravity dam |
17 | 120 | 2000 | Lake of Homs dam [25] | Syria | 3rd c. | Gravity dam, largest artificial reservoir to date (capacity of 90 million m³), still in use[10] |
17 | 1? | 1193 | Ma'agan Michael (West) [23] | Israel | 4th c. | Gravity dam |
17 | 1? | 1180 | Çavdarhisar [20] | Turkey | 2nd c. | Arch-gravity dam[21] |
17 | 1? | 1150 | Olisipo [26] | Portugal | 2nd c. | Gravity dam |
~6.1 | 1? | 11? | Qasr Khubbaz [27] | Syria | ? | ? |
16.0? | 13.0 | 1150.0 | Arévalo [18] | Spain | 2nd c. | Gravity dam |
15.6 | 12.2 | 1320.0 | Esparragalejo Dam [18] | Spain | 1st c. | Multiple-arch buttress dam, earliest known[14] |
15.2 | 11.9 | 1195.0 | Las Tomas [18] | Spain | 4th c. | Buttress dam |
15 | 1? | 1191 | Wadi Megenin [28] | Libya | 2nd c. | Buttress dam |
14.8 | 12.6 | >632.0 | Consuegra Dam [18] | Spain | 3rd–4th c. | Buttress dam |
14.6 | 14.2 | 1174 | Muro Dam [29] | Portugal | ? | ? |
14.5 | 12.7 | 1141.1 | El Paredón [18] | Spain | 3rd c. | Gravity dam |
14.5 | 12.5 | 1119.5 | Melque VI [18] | Spain | ? | Gravity dam |
>4.0 | 11.0 | 1102.0 | Lower Iturranduz Dam [18] | Spain | 2nd c. | Buttress dam |
14.0 | 15.6 | 1100.0 | La Pesquera [18] | Spain | ? | Gravity dam |
14 | 1? | 1300 | Böget [20] | Turkey | 2nd c. | Gravity dam |
13.7 | 11.8 | 1139.0 | Araya [18] | Spain | 2nd c. | Buttress dam |
13.6 | 13.5 | 1197.8 | Vega de Sta. María [18] | Spain | ? | Buttress dam |
13.5 | 12.0 | 1140.0 | Arroyo Bejarano [18] | Spain | 1st c. | Gravity dam |
>3.0 | 13.0 | 1170.0 | Charca de Valverde [18] | Spain | ? | Gravity dam |
13.0 | 13.4 | 1200.0 | Las Muelas [18] | Spain | 2nd c. | Buttress dam |
13.0 | 13.0? | 1129.0 | Azud de la Rechuela [18] | Spain | ? | Buttress dam |
13.0 | 12.3 | 1130.0 | Les Parets Antiques [18] | Spain | 3rd–4th c. | Gravity dam |
13.0 | 12.2 | 1150.0 | Villafranca [18] | Spain | 2nd–3rd c. | Buttress dam |
13.0 | 11.8 | 1198.0 | Mesa de Valhermoso [18] | Spain | 2nd–3rd c. | Gravity dam |
13.0 | 11.5 | 1130.0 | Castillo de Bayuela [18] | Spain | 2nd–3rd c. | Buttress dam |
13.0? | 1? | 11? | San Martín de la Montiña [18] | Spain | 1st–2nd c. | Gravity dam |
12.5 | 15.0 | 1100.0 | Cañada del Huevo [18] | Spain | 2nd c. | Buttress dam |
12.5 | 11.5 | 1125.0 | Pineda o Ca'La Verda [18] | Spain | 3rd c. | Gravity dam |
12.4 | 11.2 | 1180.0 | Paerón I [18] | Spain | 1st–2nd c. | Gravity dam |
12.2 | 11.0 | 1115.0 | Palomera Baja [18] | Spain | 3rd c. | Gravity dam |
12.2? | 11.0? | 1130.0? | El Peral [18] | Spain | 1st–2nd c. | Gravity dam |
12.1 | 11.9 | 1140.8 | Moracantá [18] | Spain | 1st–2nd c. | Gravity dam |
>2.0 | 12.5 | 1180.0 | Los Paredones [18] | Spain | 1st–2nd c. | Gravity dam |
>2.0 | 10.8 | 1152.0–180? | La Cuba [18] | Spain | 2nd–3rd c. | Gravity dam |
12 | 10–12 | 1516 | Band-e Kaisar [30] | Iran | 3rd c. | Gravity dam, earliest dam-bridge (weir combined with arch bridge)[15] |
12.0 | 11.0 | 1156.0 | Puy Foradado Dam [18] | Spain | 2nd–3rd c. | Arch-gravity dam[18] |
11.6 | 1? | 11? | Las Mezquitas [18] | Spain | 2nd c. | Gravity dam |
>1.5 | 11.1 | 1130.0 | Paerón II [18] | Spain | 1st–2nd c. | Buttress dam |
11.5 | 10.8 | 1135.0 | El Pont d'Armentera [18] | Spain | 2nd–4th c. | Gravity dam |
11.3 | 11.6 | 1230.0 | El Hinojal (Las Tiendas) [18] | Spain | 3rd–4th c. | Buttress dam |
11.3 | 11.4 | 1114.7 | El Argamasón [18] | Spain | 2nd–3rd c. | Gravity dam |
11.2 | 12.4 | 1130.0 | Balsa de Cañaveral [18] | Spain | 4th c. | Gravity dam |
11.1 | 10.7 | 1113.4 | Río Frío [18] | Spain | 1st c. | Gravity dam |
>0.9 | 10.7 | 1117.6 | El Peral II [18] | Spain | ? | Buttress dam |
10.9 | 10.7 | 1140.0 | Azud de los Moros [18] | Spain | 1st c. | Gravity dam |
>0.8 | 11.6 | 1160.0–80.0 | Valencia del Ventoso [18] | Spain | 3rd–4th c. | Gravity dam |
>0.8 | 11.1 | 1150.0 | El Chaparral [18] | Spain | 3rd–4th c. | Gravity dam |
1? | 10.7 | 1150.0 | Higher Iturranduz Dam [18] | Spain | 3rd–4th c. | Buttress dam |
1? | 1? | 1900 | Leptis Magna (Wadi Caam II) [31] | Libya | 2nd–3rd c.? | ? |
1? | 1? | 11? | Leptis Magna (Wadi Caam I) [31] | Libya | 2nd–3rd c.? | ? |
1? | 1? | 11? | Leptis Magna (Wadi Lebda) [32] | Libya | 2nd–3rd c.? | Buttressed dam |
1? | 1? | 11? | Las Adelfas [18] | Spain | 2nd c. | Gravity dam |
1? | 1? | 11? | Monroy [18] | Spain | ? | Gravity dam |
1? | 1? | 11? | Odrón y Linares [18] | Spain | ? | Gravity dam |
1? | 1? | 11? | Soufeiye [20] | Syria | ? | Gravity dam |
1? | 1? | 11? | Dara Dam | Turkey | 560 AD | Arch dam, earliest description of arch action in such types of dam by Procopius (De Aedificiis II.3)[33] |
See also
- Record-holding dams in antiquity
- Roman architecture
- Roman engineering
References
^ Hodge 1992, p. 80; Hodge 2000, p. 331
^ Smith 1971, pp. 25f.
^ abc Hodge 1992, p. 87
^ Schnitter 1978, p. 28, fig. 7; Hodge 1992, p. 80; Hodge 2000, p. 332
^ Smith 1970, pp. 60f.; Hodge 1992, p. 87
^ Hodge 2000, pp. 331f.
^ Hodge 1992, pp. 86f.
^ abc Smith 1971, p. 49
^ Smith 1971, p. 49; Hodge 1992, pp. 79f.
^ ab Smith 1971, p. 42
^ Hodge 2000, p. 332; James & Chanson 2002
^ ab Smith 1971, pp. 33–35; Schnitter 1978, pp. 31f.; Schnitter 1987a, p. 12; Schnitter 1987c, p. 80; Hodge 2000, p. 332, fn. 2
^ Schnitter 1987b, pp. 59–62
^ ab Schnitter 1978, p. 29; Schnitter 1987b, pp. 60, table 1, 62; James & Chanson 2002; Arenillas & Castillo 2003
^ ab Vogel 1987, p. 50
^ Hodge 1992, p. 82, table 39; thickness is at crest: Smith 1970, p. 61
^ Smith 1970, pp. 60f.; Smith 1971, p. 26; Schnitter 1978, p. 28
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakalamanaoapaqarasatauavawaxayaz Arenillas & Castillo 2003
^ Schnitter 1978, p. 31
^ abcd Schnitter 1987a, p. 12
^ abc James & Chanson 2002
^ Schnitter 1978, pp. 31f.
^ ab Schnitter 1987a, p. 13
^ Smith 1971, pp. 35f.
^ Schnitter 1978, p. 31; thickness: Hodge 1992, p. 91
^ Schnitter 1987a, p. 12; Schnitter 1987b, p. 60, table 1
^ Smith 1971, p. 39
^ Schnitter 1987b, p. 60, table 1
^ Decker 1991, pp. 78f. (no. 4)
^ Schnitter 1987a, p. 13; Hodge 2000, pp. 337f.
^ ab Smith 1971, p. 37
^ Smith 1971, p. 36
^ Smith 1971, pp. 53f.; Schnitter 1978, p. 32; Schnitter 1987a, p. 13; Schnitter 1987c, p. 80; Hodge 1992, p. 92; Hodge 2000, p. 332, fn. 2
Sources
Arenillas, Miguel; Castillo, Juan C. (2003), "Dams from the Roman Era in Spain. Analysis of Design Forms (with Appendix)", 1st International Congress on Construction History [20th–24th January], Madrid.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
Decker, Alexander (1991), "Einige römische Talsperren im heutigen Portugal", in Garbrecht, Günther, Historische Talsperren, 2, Stuttgart: Verlag Konrad Wittwer, pp. 73–81, ISBN 3-87919-158-1
Hodge, A. Trevor (1992), Roman Aqueducts & Water Supply, London: Duckworth, ISBN 0-7156-2194-7
Hodge, A. Trevor (2000), "Reservoirs and Dams", in Wikander, Örjan, Handbook of Ancient Water Technology, Technology and Change in History, 2, Leiden: Brill, pp. 331–339, ISBN 90-04-11123-9
James, Patrick; Chanson, Hubert (2002), "Historical Development of Arch Dams. From Roman Arch Dams to Modern Concrete Designs", Australian Civil Engineering Transactions, CE43: 39–56
Schnitter, Niklaus (1978), "Römische Talsperren", Antike Welt, 8 (2): 25–32
Schnitter, Niklaus (1987a), "Verzeichnis geschichtlicher Talsperren bis Ende des 17. Jahrhunderts", in Garbrecht, Günther, Historische Talsperren, 1, Stuttgart: Verlag Konrad Wittwer, pp. 9–20, ISBN 3-87919-145-X
Schnitter, Niklaus (1987b), "Die Entwicklungsgeschichte der Pfeilerstaumauer", in Garbrecht, Günther, Historische Talsperren, 1, Stuttgart: Verlag Konrad Wittwer, pp. 57–74, ISBN 3-87919-145-X
Schnitter, Niklaus (1987c), "Die Entwicklungsgeschichte der Bogenstaumauer", in Garbrecht, Günther, Historische Talsperren, 1, Stuttgart: Verlag Konrad Wittwer, pp. 75–96, ISBN 3-87919-145-X
Smith, Norman (1970), "The Roman Dams of Subiaco", Technology and Culture, 11 (1): 58–68, doi:10.2307/3102810
Smith, Norman (1971), A History of Dams, London: Peter Davies, pp. 25–49, ISBN 0-432-15090-0
Vogel, Alexius (1987), "Die historische Entwicklung der Gewichtsmauer", in Garbrecht, Günther, Historische Talsperren, 1, Stuttgart: Verlag Konrad Wittwer, pp. 47–56, ISBN 3-87919-145-X
Further reading
- Vita-Finzi, Claudio (1961), "Roman Dams in Tripolitania", Antiquity 35: 14–20
External links
Media related to Roman dams at Wikimedia Commons
Traianus – Technical investigation of Roman public works (see section Saeptum Fluminum)
"Barrages romains du Portugal. Types et fonctions", Mélanges de la Casa de Velázquez (2006) (in French)
