A geoarcheological investigation in the southern France could have located the trail of the call Mario Channela monumental Hydraulic work built more than 2,000 years ago by order of Cayo Mario, Roman general and uncle of the future Julio César. The channel, cited by ancient authors and considered missing for centuries, would have been a key infrastructure during military campaigns against Celtic peoples in southern Gaul, In a critical moment for the young Roman Republic.
The remains were first detected in 2013 during geophysical studies in Vigueirat Marismassouth of the city of Arlesin the Rhone Delta. Subsequent archaeological excavations unearthed 69 Roman ceramic fragmentstwo old wooden stakes and platforms of cobblestones that, together with radiocarbon dating and recent sedimentological analysis, they reinforce the hypothesis that there was a Roman navigable channel built between the I ac and III dc centuries
A strategic work during the Cimbria wars
According to historical sources, the channel was in charge of between 104 and 102 AC by Cayo Mariowhich led an army destined to stop the threat of the Cimbria and Teutonas tribes, in full expansion from northern Europe. The channel allowed to supply his troops from Romeavoiding the dangerous mouth of the Rhone and directly connecting the city of Arles with the Mediterranean.
The infrastructure was not only useful during the military campaign, which culminated with the Roman victory in 101 AC., but also it was donated to the Greek settlement of Massalia “The current Marseille,” that commercially exploited its use for generations. However, over the centuries, the channel fell into disuse and disappeared from the archaeological registry. His last known mention corresponds to the 1st century, in the work of the Roman author Plinio el Viejo.
Confirmation still pending
The new findings, published in the magazine Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, They present several arguments in favor of the identification of the channel. According to him main researcher of the study, Joé JunckerGeoarcheologist at the University of Strasbourg, “the length, the width, the orientation, the sediment content of the channel and the radiocarbon dating measures confirm that It was a navigable channel in Roman timespartially excavated on an old arm of the Rhone and an old lagoon. ”
He channel detected has approximately 30 meters widea dimension consistent with other similar infrastructures built by the Romans. In contrast, the natural river arms of the Rhone Delta usually measure between 110 and 180 meters, which reinforces the idea that It is an artificial work. However, No key elements such as docks or Sirga roads have been found yet that could confirm with greater security its use and their direct relationship with Cayo Mario.
Between history and hypothesis
“Despite all the investigations carried out in recent centuries, the Marius channel has not been found,” acknowledges Juncker, which emphasizes prudence when definitively attributing these remains to the historical channel. “Geoarcheology is a science with great potentialbut we must take into account that, without the confirmation of archaeological studies, At the moment it is not possible to attribute this channel to Marius”
For now, the discovery does not allow conclusive identification, but it offers solid evidence that, together, could resolve one of the most persistent archaeological mysteries of the Roman period in Gaul. For experts, the finding also represents a test of the Roman technical ingenuity in large -scale workseven with the relatively limited media of the time.
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