Roman Technology in Barbegal (Gaul) Flour Mill

The Roman culture in Gaul (modern France) built the largest flour milling operation that is known from ancient times, in about 300 AD.  Water was routed by aqueduct to the top of a bluff, and sent down two channels, with each channel powering 8 overshot waterwheels, for a total of 16 water wheels.  It is estimated that the "factory" could produce 4 tons of flour an hour, enough to feed 80,000 people.  Each waterwheel was 9 feet in diameter, and 3 feet wide, and generated about 2 hp.  The mill is located in Barbegal, 12 km north of Arles France. 

   

The images below are from The Stoa Image Gallery.  Stoa is an image database for scholars to share their digital images of classical sites.

Comments

[Clayton Adams]

According to Roman France, by Paul MacKendrick, the architect for the mill complex at Barbegal is Q. Candidius Benignus. He is buried in the Alyscamps cemetery in Arles. Carved on the grave is:
"for none surpassed him in the art of constructing machines and watercourses".
Several other sources for information about the mill are:
Benoit, Arts et Livres en Provence
Eydoux, Monuments et Tresors de la Gaul
Bromwich, The Roman Remains of Southern France
Sellin, History of Technology
Sagui, History of Science Society publication ISIS, 38(February)

[Philip J Bradbury]

I visited Barbegal a couple of years ago and it made a profound impression on me. I just read Mokyr's book http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195074777/002-5246166-5822440?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
which whilst a bit heavy going later on is a fascinating analysis of how societies and technologies develop (or not). Thanks for your site - I googled'Barbegal'.

[Stefan]

like your site ! Its very well !
;)

[Clemence]

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[Dorothy]

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