Geophysical surveys at the Roman Aqueduct Aqua Virgo (Roma, Italy)

Aqua Virgo is the oldest Roman aqueduct still functioning in the city of Rome. It has never stopped working and still today it supplies some of the most famous fountains of the capital. The aqueduct was inaugurated in 19 B.C. and presents an almost entirely subterranean route. Geophysical measurements were undertaken with the aims to acquire further data about the water intake system of Aqua Virgo in Salone. The ancient aqueduct did not catch the water only from one single source but from a complex of springs and feeder channels located in the area. This project intents to bring light on the possible connections between the main underground specus of Aqua Virgo and its tributary channels, many of which are still unknown. The objectives are detecting and localising the underground feeder channels referring to the existing cartography of the area and to the airshafts visible on the surface. Once the conduits have been recorded using geophysical prospections, the further aim is to understand their dimensions, their constructive features, and their depth from the surface.