A group of Turkish and Spanish scientists has revealed the results of an archaeological study in western Turkey that challenges the accepted historical dates of an aqueduct near the ancient city of Lebedos, one of the twelve Ionian cities of Anatolia.

The research, recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, used uranium-thorium (U-Th) dating on the carbonate formations covering the Doğanbey aqueduct, which allowed them to estimate its age, suggesting a possible construction prior to the Roman era, placing it in an Ionian settlement period.

The study, led by Ismail İşintek from Dokuz Eylül University and Altug Hasözbek from the National Center for Research on Human Evolution (CENIEH) in Burgos, has identified that the aqueduct may be between 2,717 ± 106 and 2,528 ± 106 years old, indicating a period before Roman rule in this region.

This discovery provides tangible evidence that water management practices in Lebedos and its surroundings have deeper roots in history than previously thought, likely influenced by the presence of mineral-rich hot springs that have been a constant attraction for ancient civilizations.

Lebedos aqueduct
Twelve Ionian cities and some other ancient cities in western Anatolia and location of the Doğanbey bath. Credit: İsmail İşintek, Altuğ Hasözbek et al.

The Doğanbey aqueduct, located near the village of the same name in İzmir province, has historically been considered a Roman structure due to its proximity to the well-documented Roman baths in Karakoç. However, differences in construction materials and techniques, along with a lack of extensive archaeological studies in the area, raised doubts about the chronological attribution of the structure.

Lebedos and other Ionian cities, such as Teos and Clazomenae, were known by ancient geographers and chroniclers, among them Pausanias, who referred to the hot springs in the area as both wonderful and beneficial, highlighting their abundance and quality. This testimony is now complemented by precise scientific dating, which not only reaffirms the existence of pre-Roman bathing facilities but also underscores the importance of geothermal resources in the daily lives of these civilizations. The presence of these hot springs was crucial in the construction of baths and aqueducts, which not only facilitated access to hot water but also provided therapeutic benefits, making this region a particular attraction.

Located along the active Tuzla fault, which extends in a northeast-southwest direction, the area surrounding Doğanbey has a geology rich in hot springs and travertine deposits, a type of rock formed by precipitated calcium carbonate. These deposits, locally known as sinter, form when hot water emerges filled with minerals and precipitates as it cools. The aqueduct, which extends approximately 500 meters, is covered by a layer of sinter between 5 and 25 centimeters thick, formed from the flow of hot water that has left a visible mark on its walls and base.

U-Th dating applied to the sinter layers provided the first dates of settlement in Lebedos before the Roman period, an unprecedented finding so far. The U-Th dating technique is particularly suitable for younger materials, such as carbonate deposits in aqueducts, as it allows for precise dating of the carbonate layers through their uranium and thorium content. According to the team, the structure of the aqueduct differs from typical features of nearby Roman baths, confirming construction in phases prior to Roman rule.

Lebedos aqueduct
Two well-known Roman bath structure ruins from the second century AD near to the Doğanbey and structural characteristic of studied aqueduct. Credit: İsmail İşintek, Altuğ Hasözbek et al.

For the dating of the carbonate formations, the researchers conducted careful sample collection at different points on the aqueduct, prioritizing surface layers on the walls and base. Analyses and sample preparations were carried out at the U-Series laboratory at CENIEH, where advanced techniques for dissolution and separation of U-Th isotopes were employed. Precision in sample collection and analysis allowed the team to confirm two dates for the external layers of sinter: one of 2,717 ± 106 years and another of 2,528 ± 106 years.

These dates have been established with a margin of error of about 100 years, but represent a significant advance for the region’s archaeology. The consistency of the results also suggests that the sinter in the samples behaved as a closed system with respect to uranium-234 decay, which reinforces the reliability of the obtained ages.

Petrographically, the sinter formations on the aqueduct exhibit laminated calcite layers in feather-like shrub structures, as well as irregular calcite aggregates indicating inorganic precipitation processes. These formations also show evidence of microbial formations in certain areas of the walls, suggesting that hot, mineralized water facilitated the growth of microorganisms at certain points in the structure.

These sinter structures are considered valuable historical archives, as each accumulated carbonate layer records specific environmental conditions and water flow at the time of deposition. Through the study of these layers, archaeologists can gather information about periods of increased water flow, maintenance activities, or changes in water sources, allowing for a more detailed reconstruction of the aqueduct’s operational history.

Lebedos aqueduct
Field view of the Doğanbey aqueduct and petrographic characteristics of travertine samples. Credit: İsmail İşintek, Altuğ Hasözbek et al.

Although the aqueduct has largely been ignored by archaeological studies to date, the research team has emphasized the importance of conducting further research in the area. Since the 1960s, modern agricultural activities have caused significant damage to the structure, affecting its conservation. The aqueduct’s proximity to a road and its location in an active agricultural region pose additional challenges to the preservation of this important testament to ancient hydraulic engineering.

The lack of exhaustive archaeological studies has contributed to the perception that these remains are not as valuable as temples or monuments, an error that researchers hope to correct by disseminating these findings. The team also suggests that other baths in nearby areas may be similarly ancient or even older, recommending the application of similar dating techniques to neighboring structures to build a more complete picture of the region’s history.

This discovery represents a major advancement in understanding the history of Lebedos and its surroundings. The possibility that the Doğanbey aqueduct predates Roman occupation in the region adds complexity to the chronology of settlements in Western Anatolia. The study’s authors emphasize that, while U-Th dating technology has enabled the precise dating of this structure, archaeological research in the area is still in its early stages.

The dating of the sinter structures on the Doğanbey aqueduct serves as conclusive evidence of a pre-Roman settlement in the Lebedos region and opens new possibilities for future archaeological research. Moreover, it suggests that the water management system in the region is not merely a Roman legacy but a tradition dating back to the ancient Ionian civilizations that inhabited the area and leveraged the hot springs to create complex infrastructure.

SOURCES

İsmail İşintek, Altuğ Hasözbek et al., Pre-Roman U-Th datings of an aqueduct near ancient Lebedos (Aegean Region, Türkiye). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Vol.60, December 2024, 104823. doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104823

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