Archaeologists may have found a 2,100 -year -old Roman channel built by Gaius Marius in southern France

A Roman channel dated over 2,100 years may have been located in southern France. It is believed that the structure is the Marius channel. It is thought that it was built between 104 and 102 BC during the Cimbrian wars. The Romans were involved in battles against the Cimbri and Teutones, two migratory Celtic tribes. It was said that the waterway was ordered by Roman General Gaius Marius to improve supply routes. If confirmed, this would be the first major Roman hydraulic engineering project in Gaul.

The study suggests that the Roman construction patterns of the old channel

According to a to study Published in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, the channel’s remains were found south of Arles within the River River Delta. The research team that was led by Joé Juncker, a gearqueologist at the University of Strasbourg, conducted sediment nucleus analysis and dating by radiocarbon. These tests indicate that the place was used between the first century BC and the third century AD, the dimensions of the channel that mediate approximately 98 feet wide, align with the patterns of Roman engineering.

Archaeological evidence point to Roman use

The discovery of the site includes 69 pieces of Roman ceramic. Has two old wooden Pilesand large cobblestone platforms. Radiocarbon analysis of bets suggests that they date from the first to the fourth century, AD Simon Loseby, honorary professor at Sheffield University, told Science Live that the discovery increases the evidence of large -scale Roman -scale infrastructure projects. He noted that more excavations can reveal quay or trailer costumes, which could provide a stronger confirmation of the channel’s objective and duration of use.

Additional excavations required to confirm the identity of the channel

The latest historical mention of Marius’s channel was recorded by Plínio, the old man in the first century, ad juncker, warned that, without additional archaeological verification, the definitive attribution to Marius remains uncertain. The on -site research continues.