Savaria - A Vas Megyei Múzeumok értesítője 30. (2006) (Szombathely, 2007)

Régészet - Anderkó Krisztián: Savaria vízvezetéke

Anderkó Krisztián: Savaria vízvezetéke The springs supplying the aqueduct came from such geological surroundings, of which content has been composed of chlorite schist, which contributed to the effect that scaling, most likely having been very damaging, would not have caused any problem. In most cases, the springs gain their supply from clean rain water, which abrades feldspars from the soil, primarily calcium-carbonate (CaCOJ, which is responsible for the scaling process. Therefore, the calcium-carbonate absorption and the scaling process that narrows the cross-section, hence having an impact on the water delivery capacity, depend on the rock composition. It was concluded in respect to the pipeline found in Köln that deposit developed with cc. 1 mm per annum and reached a thickness of 10 cms within 140 years (HODGE 1992: 228), whilst 47 cms ofCaCO adhered to the side walk in Nîmes (HODGE 1992: 99). On the other hand, maximum 8 mm of scale deposit was observed within the Savarian aqueduct, which is related to the negligible calcium-carbonate content of the chlorite schist, rather than frequent cleaning. As observed, terrazzo was constructed in two well-separable layers separately on the bottom and the side walls of the channel in case of the section excavated in Bucsu (Fig. 8: 18). It is less likely that this solution, not observed in case of any other channel section, would be related to the improvement of the aquifer layer. The wear and damage of the terrazzo was remedied by the installation of new layers (six separate layers were observed in the interior of the channel built in Caesarea around 100 A.D.) (HODGE 1992: 98), rather than by the removal of the used ones. Such separation may have been completed for environmental reasons, since the strengthening of the corner points may be associated with their vulnerability (HODGE 1992: 98). In the Austrian area, where the aqueduct shifts its direction, its size and covering change as well. Halaunbrenner recovered bricks, roof tiles, iron fragments in large quantities and one small-sized silver coin (lANG-AuiNGER 1986187:303; TÜRR 1953: 131). All have disappeared since then. No artifact has been found in the aqueduct to date besides the ones of uncertain ages coming from different locations. Since the channel is not marked, its direct dating is impossible. If the known reverse U-shaped Roman water channels that were also made of schist, ran under the surface (and follow topography), have had vaults, having been insulated with terrazzos and have had similar sizes, are examined based on their implementation, then the ones in Köln (GREWE 1983; GREWE 1985) and in Triest (NEYSES 1980) can be regarded as the closest parallels to the Savarian aquaeductus. Currently, no direct data is available in respect to the construction dates of these aqueductes (ÍANGAUINGER 1986/87: 306). Similarity can be associated with the identical geographical conditions and not with an architectural scheme to be followed that is typical to a given time period. The grand epoch of water channel construction in the Roman Empire falls between the 1st century В. С and the 1st century A.D., when 5 high output aqueductes out of the eleven ones were implemented in Rome between 33 B.C. and 52 A.D. to be more precise (PÓCZY 1980: 11). However, the public utility systems of the Italian cities, more accurately their water channel constructions, may be dated back to the ruling periods of Emperors Augustus and Traianus (PÓCZY1980: 14). Determining the dates of the baths could represent a proper basis to determine the age of the Savarian aqueduct. Chronicles inform on the discovery of a building defined as a bath complex, when the library of the seminary was in progress, yet its age is still unknown (BUOCZ 1967: 30). Tihamér Szentléleky identified the building remains recovered in Dániel Berzsenyi Square as a bath complex, of which age can be described by that the building beneath it was demolished in the 2nd century — as 44