The Power and Performance of Roman Water-mills

Description

This work makes use of modern theoretical knowledge and experience of water-power generation and its applications to learn more about the performance and behaviour of Roman machines, subjecting the archaeological evidence to functional analysis. In some earlier examinations of water-mills the need to assess potential power and productive output has been the dominant aim. Hitherto, no attempt has been made to measure the power necessary to drive Roman style millstones, nor to calculate their production/power rate. In this examination, using hydro-mechanical analysis, the disparate sites that have appropriate evidence are evaluated and the results synthesized to provide us with a clearer picture of technical development and achievement and, where possible, evolution.