Roman aqueduct discovered under Slovakian mansion – History

The ground excavation of the historic Rusov manor house in Bratislava, Slovakia, found a Roman aqueduct in the 2nd century AD, the first Roman-era water supply system ever made in Slovakia.

The mansion is a national landmark, built in 1840 with a 16th-century manor residence. It is modeled on British Gothic Revival architecture and Art Deco, with pointed arched windows and incredibly intricate wood panels and interior stucco ceilings. Its large park is also modeled on formal English gardens.

Rusovce Manor House is in a dilapidated state and has long been open to the public. Now, it is undergoing a thorough reconstruction from the underground foundation to the ceiling. Its rich interior decor (paneling, ceiling, door frame) is being carefully removed so they can be replaced once the structure is done. The reasons are also being renovated. The reconstruction is scheduled to be completed in 2029 with an estimated cost of €110 million.

Rusovce is part of the Danubian Limes (Roman military border along the Danube), and the Roman military camps in Gerulata are part of the border defense there. It was built in the 2nd century until the 4th century when Roman troops withdrew from the province of Pannonia. Today, there are no visible remains of forts above the ground, but eight feet of stone on the ground survived under the ground.

When the reconstruction of the mansion began, archaeologists from the Department of Classical Archaeology (Truni) of the School of Art, Tenava University, began to dig out the surroundings of the house. They unearthed the remains of the Roman aqueduct, which is nearly 100 feet tall, 36 inches tall, and contains a 13-inch wide passage through which water passes. The bottom of the passage is lined with Tegulae, large, flat tiles that gradually tilt towards the location of a modern mansion.

The huge scale of its construction is excellent. Calculations show that the Romans used at least 51 tons of stone and more than 80 Tegulae. Some of these bricks have manufacturer stamped names, while others use paws left by animals when they dry in the sun.

A manufacturer tagged C val const kar to help build aqueducts, as the ceramic tiling workshop of Gaius Valerius Constans in Carnutum, Austria produced ceramic tiles in the 2nd century.

The aqueduct was not used briefly until the end of the 2nd century. Then it is filled and saved in good condition. It runs under the southern wing of the current mansion, but archaeologists don’t know what happened during the Roman period. The soldiers of the fortress bathing is the current assumption.

Since the site is located in a protected heritage area near UNESCO listed buildings, Slovak authorities chose to leave the aqueduct in situ and relocate the planned technical service building to accommodate its preservation.