Student profiles
Joseph Morley
Email: joseph.morley@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
Thesis Title
Institution
Supervisors
Dr Mary Beagon (University of Manchester)
Dr Duncan Keenan-Jones (University of Manchester)
Research Summary
My research explores how the aqueducts of Ancient Rome were used and managed in the extra-urban zone. I focus on the area around Tivoli (Ancient Tibur) where there is a high concentration of aqueduct-tapping sites. My research is based on the archaeological, textual, and epigraphic evidence relating to extra-urban supply with a particular focus on the treatise on Rome’s aqueducts written by Sextus Julius Frontinus. Additionally, using recently pioneered new methods in hydraulic engineering modelling, I will be able to provide the first quantitative estimates of the amount of water diverted from the aqueducts upstream of Rome. These results will be interpreted through a humanities framework to build a comprehensive and evidence-based judgement of the relationship of Rome’s aqueduct infrastructure with extra-urban stakeholders.
The importance of my work stems from the growing competition for water resources, exacerbated by climate change, that affects many areas of the modern world. It is hoped that my work will allow beneficial lessons to be learned from Roman resource management.
Research Interests
Roman Aqueducts, Roman Topography, Geoarchaeological Science, Roman Infrastructure, Sextus Julius Frontinus.
Publications
coming soon