Amidst excavations at a historic mansion in Bratislava, archaeologists discovered an ancient Roman aqueduct system hidden beneath the dirt. It is the first of its kind to be discovered in Slovakia.
Ancient Aqueduct Found at 19th-Century Mansion
While working to research and restore the long-neglected Rusovce Mansion, archaeologists from Slovakia’s University of Trnava made an unexpected discovery. The team, led by associate Professor Erik Hrnčiarik, unearthed an ancient Roman aqueduct on the 19th-century mansion’s grounds.
Rusovce Mansion, located in Bratislava’s Rusovce borough, is a Neo-Gothic manor inspired by the English Gothic Revival movement. It was built on the site of an older manor house from the 16th century, the medieval structure of which was incorporated into its current iteration. The ongoing restoration of Rusovce Mansion—including the excavation of the Roman aqueduct—was made possible by an investment of 110 million euros by the government of Slovakia.
Preservation of Roman Aqueduct Is “Extraordinary”
Slovakia’s first known Roman aqueduct measures nearly 100 feet in length. It has a 13-inch-wide channel lined with flat bricks called tegulae. It was designed to transport water on a subtle slope toward an ancient building at the current site of Rusovce Mansion—possibly a soldiers’ bathhouse.
According to Hrnčiarik, “The state of preservation of the aqueduct is extraordinary. We have documented 38 meters of the aqueduct so far. Its preservation is extraordinary. Calculations indicate that the Romans used at least 51 tons of stone and over 80 tegulae. Some of the bricks bear manufacturers’ stamps, while others feature paw prints left by animals as they were left drying in the sun.”
The manufacturers’ stamps that appear on some of the tegulae helped experts date the Roman aqueduct to around the 2nd century CE. Meanwhile, Slovak authorities have already announced intentions to preserve the Roman aqueduct at its current location.
