A rainfall data analysis for the archeological drawing of the Augustan aqueduct route

Was Cumae supplied by the collection of rainwater, widely practiced for long time in the Mediterranean area, or by a branch of the Augustan Aqueduct? The main goal of Aqua Augusta was to provide water to Puteoli (civilian) and Misenum (military) that were two of the main harbors of the Empire. However, the ruins of the branch that would have flowed through Cumae have not been excavated yet. The aqueduct structure has not been studied in detail due to the difficulty in inspecting and the missing arches. A rainfall data analysis was carried out to assess the flow and use of the water conveyed by the Aqua Augusta aqueduct to Cumae. Results indicated that rainwater was not sufficient to supply Cumae and the Aqua Augusta should have played a great role in delivering water to the city. © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS.