Barbegal Mill Investigation.

WPI’s first field study of a Roman water system was performed in 2002.  Research Associate Wayne Lorenz led the field study of the Barbegal mill site near present-day Arles, France.  Barbegal was a flour mill where ancient Romans used water power to drive millstones.  The mill was one of the earliest industrial factories with 16 waterwheels, each of which powered a heavy millstone.  This Roman mill dates from the First Century, A.D., and relied on springs and two long aqueducts.  WPI has studied the Barbegal mill water supply, hydraulics of the aqueducts (north and south aqueducts), water quality and hydraulics of the channel, and the water functions of the mill.