Saw a Roman drainage system in person and it blew my mind

I was at a dig site outside York last weekend. My buddy's a volunteer there. He showed me this Roman drain they uncovered. The thing was built with fitted stone channels. No mortar. Still carried water away after 1,800 years. That got me thinking about my own work. I spend hours fixing leaky pvc pipes that crack in a decade. Those guys built something that lasted centuries with just rocks and gravity. Made me feel like a hack honestly. Has anyone else seen ancient infrastructure that puts modern stuff to shame?

2 comments

2 Comments

elliot_miller2213d ago

You ever wonder if future archaeologists are gonna dig up our PVC pipes and just laugh?

tessa_kelly13d ago

PVC is garbage for longevity. I learned that the hard way replacing sprinkler lines every few years. Romans used volcanic cement and gravity, we use plastic and hope. Your best bet is to switch to copper or cast iron if you can afford it. Those old guys understood drainage better than most modern plumbers. Check out some old Roman concrete formulas, they actually get stronger over time in water. Modern concrete degrades in like 50 years max.