A multidisciplinary team of researchers led by geoarchaeologist Joé Juncker from the University of Strasbourg announced the possible unearthing of one of the oldest hydraulic infrastructures built outside Italy by the Romans: the Marius Canal. The team published their findings in the journal Archaeological Science: Reports, claiming to have found remains of the canal south of Arles within the Rhône River delta.
The Marius Canal is thought to have been constructed between 104 and 102 BCE during the Cimbrian Wars. It was ordered by Roman general Gaius Marius to improve supply routes for his troops.
"The length, width, orientation, sediment content of the canal, and radiocarbon dating confirm that it was a navigable canal in Roman times, partially excavated in an ancient arm of the Rhône and an ancient lagoon," said Juncker, according to National Geographic Historia. Juncker's team conducted sediment core analysis and radiocarbon dating, which indicated that the canal was in use between the first century BCE and the third century CE, supporting the hypothesis that it is a navigable canal from the Roman era.
Findings from the site include 69 fragments of Roman pottery and wooden stakes dated between the 1st and 4th centuries CE. Over the centuries, the exact location of the Marius Canal had been lost, hidden under layers of sediment due to the transformation of the city over time. Its location has been a subject of debate in the scientific community.
In 2013, a geophysical survey in the marshes southeast of Arles detected an anomaly about 30 meters wide whose characteristics did not match natural formations, marking a turning point in the research. "The investigations suggest that the canal was integrated into the port system of Arles," the researchers noted.
The canal's width of about 30 meters is narrower than the natural tributaries in the area, which usually have widths between 110 and 180 meters, but is consistent with other Roman canals designed for large ships. If further research confirms the existence of the Marius Canal, it could redefine the understanding of Roman military expansion in Europe and provide tangible evidence of their capabilities in large infrastructure projects.
"Geoarchaeology is a science with great potential, but we must bear in mind that, without the confirmation of more precise archaeological studies, for the moment it is not possible to definitively attribute this canal to Marius," commented Juncker.
"These findings add to evidence of Roman large-scale infrastructure projects, but additional evidence is still needed to definitively support the theory that the canal is the Marius Canal," said Simon Loseby, an honorary lecturer at the University of Sheffield. "The Roman General Marius arrived in southern Gaul in 104 BCE to prevent the threat from the Cimbri and Teutones who were ravaging Gaul and Spain, and potentially reaching Italy. He led a large army and urgently needed supplies from the sea," Loseby added.
The purpose of the Marius Canal was to supply by sea the Roman legions stationed near the city of Arles to halt the advance of the Germanic tribes threatening to cross the Alps and reach Italy. The canal allowed large ships carrying supplies to safely traverse the region, ensuring the supply of provisions and troops from Italy to the Roman legions in Gaul.
After the war ended, the canal was given to the Roman allies in the region, the Greek colony of Massalia (now Marseille), which benefited from its commercial use. However, traces of the canal gradually disappeared from historical records a few centuries later, and its location was lost over time.
The research team hopes that future excavations at the site may reveal quays or towpaths, which could provide stronger confirmation of the canal's purpose and duration of use. "Such evidence could include the discovery of ship docks or towpaths used to pull boats along the canal," the team noted.
"Although the origin of the canal is directly associated with Gaius Marius's military campaign against the Cimbrians, evidence indicates that its use continued even after the war ended," the researchers added.
The discovery of the Marius Canal is evidence of Roman ingenuity in utilizing technology and resources to protect its territories from external threats and allowed Rome to acquire a strategic advantage. "The Marius Canal changed the course of trade and war in Roman Gaul completely," the study noted.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.