Mechanisation Roman agriculture

arles aqueduct



mills below rock-cut channel

the romans improved crop growing watering growing plants using aqueducts. increasing amount of evidence suggests parts of industry mechanised. example, extensive sets of mills existed in gaul , rome @ date grind wheat flour. impressive extant remains occur @ barbegal in southern france, near arles. sixteen overshot water wheels arranged in 2 columns fed main aqueduct arles, outflow 1 being supply next 1 down in series. mills apparently operated end of 1st century ad until end of 3rd century. capacity of mills has been estimated @ 4.5 tons of flour per day, sufficient supply enough bread 12,500 inhabitants occupying town of arelate @ time.

vertical water wheels known romans, described vitruvius in de architectura of 25 bc, , mentioned pliny elder in naturalis historia of ad 77. there later references floating water mills byzantium , sawmills on river moselle poet ausonius. use of multiple stacked sequences of reverse overshot water-wheels widespread in roman mines.

there direct evidence bas-reliefs used kind of automatic harvester or reaper when collecting in ripe crops. believed either romans or celts before them, invented mechanical reaper cut ears without straw , pushed oxen. pliny elder mentions device in naturalis historia xviii, 296. machine forgotten in dark ages, during period reapers reverted using scythes , sickles gather crops.