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Research conducted in Pompeii
during the 2002 and 2003 field seasons concentrated on changes to
the pattern of traffic and on the nature of those changes. Previous
consideration of this question was limited to a single case study
in the area surrounding Insula VI.iv (“A Diachronic Perspective
on Directionality: Detour and the Pattern of Pompeian Traffic” in
104th Annual Meeting Abstracts [New Orleans 2003] 96-7) and concluded
that road resurfacing was the cause of alteration to the previous
traffic pattern. The unexpected result of a citywide survey was
the discovery of a fundamental link between the flow of water and
the flow of vehicles. This paper 1) explores the interaction of
these two elements in the ancient city’s infrastructure and 2) examines
specific instances when the construction, elaboration, and modification
of the water system impacted the design of the traffic system. Evidence
is found throughout Pompeii, but special focus is given to Via Stabiana
and Via dell’Abbondanza.
The close connection between streets and the water supply has long
been known. Indeed, the very form of streets - the high curbs, presence
of stepping-stones, and the durability of the pavement and its noticeable
camber – makes clear their role in the drainage of waste-water.
However, it is the locations in the street of supply system architecture,
such as fountains and water towers, which reveals integration in
the planning for traffic control and water supply. This research
also has broader implications for our understanding of Pompeii’s
urban texture, especially in the debated area east of the Forum
in Region VII.
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