Various Aqueducts of Ancient Times

Are you curious about how the ancient water flow was like? Currently, especially in Indonesia, we already have a water distribution system facilitated by PDAM (Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum) & PAM (Perusahaan Air Minum) making it easier for us to get clean water for our daily needs. But, what was the flow of water in ancient times like?

The Unique Variety of Water Channels in the Ancients

Let’s take a peek at how unique the ancient water drainage system was from several countries in the following world!

• MAJAPAHIT: Water Channel from Pure Terracotta

Around 1293 to 1500 BC, centered in East Java, Indonesia, stood the Majapahit kingdom which was the last and largest Hindu-Buddhist kingdom in Indonesian history. This work is considered to have breakthroughs and innovations that are considered as one of the pioneers of today’s civilization development. Especially in the utilization and management of water resources. In the 13-15th century AD, the people of Majapahit were familiar with pipes for agricultural irrigation channels which were relatively complex.

This water pipe was discovered by Henry Maclaine Pont (1924-1980) in the Trowulan area, Mojokerto Regency, East Java, Indonesia. The aqueduct is in the form of a cylindrical pipe with a diameter of 15 cm and a length of about 50 cm and is made of pure terracotta (burnt earth) without any metal admixture.

• AQUADUK: A Colossal Roman Aqueduct Built with the Help of Gravity

The Romans created and developed many amazing technologies that are still used today. One of them is the Aqueduct, a large aqueduct that brought fresh water to ancient Rome.

The many Roman aqueducts that still exist and function well today are proof of the strength of the construction of the Romans thousands of years ago. It is hard to imagine how the Romans would have built such colossal complex structures without dream machines. In fact, this colossal Roman aqueduct was built with the help of gravity.

To measure the location of the land, the Romans used tools called groma, chorobates, and dioptra. This tool is used to ensure that the water will flow at the appropriate speed. The waterways are designed so that gravity alone transports the water in a flat channel. Different materials are used for the channels through which the water flows depending on the need and availability. Some use ceramics and stones.

• IRAN: The Technological Wonder Of Ancient Iran, Qanat

Created some 3,000 years ago, the existence of the Ancient Iranian underground aqueduct system, the Qanat, was a smart and sustainable solution to overcome the water scarcity of that era. This ancient aqueduct system has also been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage in 2016 where the Qanat is a testament to the ingenuity of the ancient Iranian people.

Qanat itself is a tunnel or underground channel that brings fresh water from its source, namely in the mountainous region to lower areas. This qanat was built with irrigation in mind – the perfect solution in a region abounding in mountains.

• CHINA: Stopover Place of Ancient Aqueducts

The stopover of ancient waterways in China, located in the Yangtze River Delta. This area is an area that contains the richest cities in China such as Shanghai. These cities account for almost a quarter of China’s gross domestic product (GDP).

A study using a combination of archaeological samples, remote sensing, geographic information system modeling, and satellite imagery to analyze how the Liangzhu people managed water in the Yangtze River delta between 5300 BC and 4300 BC. The river delta area has now dried up, but is believed to have remained below the surface of the water that flowed into the East China Sea until about seven thousand years ago.

Researchers have traced the system of high dams, low dams and dikes, to come to the conclusion that this ancient aqueduct is one of the oldest in the world. Previously, the oldest aqueduct system was in Mesopotamia, which is around 4,900 years old.

Those are some very unique ancient water channels, Sobat Vini! You can imagine that with minimal technology, people in ancient times were able to make quite complex waterways! With current technological developments, what kind of waterways can be innovated for today’s life? However, whatever the innovation, Vinilon Group will always be ready to accommodate the needs of waterways for all of us!