A Contribution to the History of Water Management and Dams: The Roman and Medieval Hydraulic Structures on the Rio Grande Stream, Amelia (Umbria, Italy)

This paper describes some ancient hydraulic structures located along the Rio Grande stream (Amelia, Central Italy). The main structures are two large dams, not previously mentioned in the literature on dam's history. One of two dams is an arch dam, already existing in 1427, while the other one is probably of Roman age. The main purpose of the two dams, both higher than 15 m, was to provide water to not less than three water-mills. Both reservoirs may possibly have also been used for irrigation and fishery.