Water, Urbanism and Sustainability in Roman Ostia

Author: Mark A. Locicero

This study opens a dialogue between the successes and failures of the first and twenty-first centuries in our urban relationship with water. This publication examines the archaeological evidence of three urban blocks in Ostia, focusing on elements of the water systems identified in previous excavations and unpublished archival material. Inspired by the diversity of research approaches currently used to assess water sustainability in contemporary cities, this study introduces the Roman Water Footprint, which assesses changes to all parts of a hydraulic system (supply, use, drainage). At the same time, the Roman Water Footprint calculates sociocultural expressions of water use and utilizes paleoecological data to highlight the dynamic natural presence of water.

The use of the Roman water footprint offers a new perspective on the broader context of ancient water systems and how they changed over time.

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