The Aqueduct of Los Millares – Investigations of the Water Supply of a Large Chalcolithic Settlement in the South-East of the Iberian Pensinsula

洛斯米拉雷斯考古遗址位于安达卢西亚阿尔梅里亚港以北约15公里处，是伊比利亚半岛已知的最伟大的胆石防御工事之一。19世纪末，两位采矿工程师路易斯·西雷和亨利·西雷发现了这个聚落和墓地，里面有70多个大坑。在L·西雷绘制的地图上，可以看到一条渡槽，从现在已经消失的源头通向从洛斯米拉雷斯定居点到定居点内蓄水池约1公里的距离。L·斯雷特也在各种出版物中描述了这种渡槽。从1978年到1991年，格拉纳达大学的A.Arrias Palau和F.Molina González挖掘了定居点防御工事的大部分。今天我们可以看到供水设施的以下部分：第一外墙的疑似通道，第一和第二墙之间的强烧结石，以及第三和第四防御墙内的两个疑似蓄水池。但是，没有明确的考古证据支持斯雷特的理论供水。这项研究的主要目的是提供经验证据，证明在铜器时代存在一个巧妙的供水系统，其中包括洛斯米拉雷斯的一条渡槽和一个或多个附属水源。如果可能，还将发表关于水质和气候条件的补充声明。首先，将研究洛斯米拉雷斯所在的里约热内卢安达拉克斯河谷集水区铜矿时代地下水开采的地质和水文地质条件。其次，将对源头(S)和渡槽更多部分进行考古和水文地质勘察。第三，将采集石灰华的样本，L.Siret将其描述为渡槽的进一步指示。这些将通过不同的科学方法进行分析：-230th/U的调查揭示了确切的年龄，正如试点样本所显示的那样，其年代介于公元前2,627至2,601年之间。对渡槽不同部位的调查可以揭示渡槽充水的时间段。还将分析周围地区可能的污染源样本。-通过将碳酸盐的微量元素与Los Millares周围的现代地下水和热水的水化学参数进行比较，应显示输水管内是否有流动的地下水或热水。-如果很明显，渡槽中的水与水循环相连，那么，通过稳定同位素13C/12C和18O/16O的组成，有望就西班牙东南部铜器时代的古气候做出额外的陈述。

The archaeological site of Los Millares, ca. 15 kms north of port Almería in Andalusia, is one of the greatest known chalcolithic fortifications of the Iberian Peninsula. The settlement and the necropolis with more than 70 tumuli was discovered at the end of the 19th century by two mining engineers, Louis and Henri Siret.In the maps drawn by L. Siret, an aqueduct can be seen leading from its now vanished source within a distance of ca. 1 km from the settlement of Los Millares to a cistern inside the settlement. L. Siret also described this aqueduct in various publications. From 1978 to 1991 most parts of the settlement fortification were excavated by A. Arribas Palau and F. Molina González, University of Granada. Today we can see the following parts of the water supply facilities: a suspected passage through the first outer wall, strongly sintered stones between the first and the second wall and two suspected cisterns inside the third and fourth fortification wall. But there exists no clear archaeological evidence for Siret’s theorised water supply.The main goal of this research is to give empirical evidence that in the Copper Age there existed an ingenious system of water supply which included an aqueduct and one or more attached sources in Los Millares. If possible additional statements about the water quality and the climatic conditions will be made. Firstly, the geological and hydrogeological conditions for groundwater exploitation in the Copper Age in the catchment area of the Rio Andarax valley will be examined where Los Millares is located. Secondly, the archaeological and hydrogeological prospection of the source(s) and further parts of the aqueduct will be carried out. Thirdly, samples will be taken of the tufa, described by L. Siret as further indications for the aqueduct. These will be analysed by different scientific methods: - Investigations of 230Th/U reveal the exact age, as could be shown with a pilot sample, which is dated between 2,627 und 2,601 BC. Investigations from different parts of the aqueduct can reveal the period of time when the aqueduct was filled with water. Samples of possible sources in the surrounding area also will be analysed. - By comparing the trace elements of the carbonates with the hydrochemical parameters of modern groundwaters and thermal waters in the surroundings of Los Millares, it shall be shown, whether in the aqueduct there was flowing groundwater or thermal water. - If it is clear, that the water in the aqueduct was connected to the water cycle then, by the composition of the stable isotopes 13C/12C and 18O/16O, hopefully additional statements about the palaeo-climate in the Copper Age in SE-Spain can be made.