A qanat is an underground channel consisting of verticals shafts connected at their bottom with a sub-horizontal tunnel bringing water from an aquiferous stratum, with a slight downward slope useful for the water tapped to run down it and into the open air by gravity. Qanats were first developed in Kurdistan as a side result of mining activity by the early millennium B.C. at the latest. Qanats exist in more than 34 countries all over the world, but most are concentrated in present day Iran. In Italy, Sicily is usually cited for its “Ingruttati”, but also in the Campania Region, there are some qanats (“Qanate”). As a matter of fact, this paper describes the historical, biological and morphological aspects of the Roccarainola qanat located in the district of Naples, in Southern Italy. It dates back to the Roman Ages, but currently the hypogean environmental condition misrepresents its ancient state. The animal species discovered forty years ago in the Roccarainola qanat were substantially small sized arthropods, a planaria and some species of bats. The Roccarainola qanat is composed of three branches for a total length of 786 m, with a drop of 9 m. The tunnel slope varies from around 1.70 cm/m to 5.20 cm/m. However, original slopes have been modified due to accumulation of debris and waste. Seventeen vertical shafts (not internally covered) with a circular section were found along the hypogeum. On the average, the shafts are spaced 36.5 m apart.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
September 01 2010
Historical, biological and morphological aspects of the Roccarainola qanat in the district of Naples, Italy
G. De Feo;
1Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo, 1 - 84084, Fisciano SA, Italy
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
S. De Gisi;
S. De Gisi
1Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo, 1 - 84084, Fisciano SA, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
C. Malvano;
C. Malvano
1Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo, 1 - 84084, Fisciano SA, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
D. Capolongo;
D. Capolongo
2Circolo Culturale B.G. Duns Scoto di Roccarainola, Roccarainola NA, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
S. Del Prete;
S. Del Prete
3Federazione Speleologica Campana, via G. Papini, 3 - 80046 San Giorgio a, Cremano NA, Italy
4Gruppo Speleologico Natura Esplora, via Reanni 3 - 83010 Summonte AV, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
M. Manco;
M. Manco
3Federazione Speleologica Campana, via G. Papini, 3 - 80046 San Giorgio a, Cremano NA, Italy
4Gruppo Speleologico Natura Esplora, via Reanni 3 - 83010 Summonte AV, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
F. Maurano;
F. Maurano
3Federazione Speleologica Campana, via G. Papini, 3 - 80046 San Giorgio a, Cremano NA, Italy
4Gruppo Speleologico Natura Esplora, via Reanni 3 - 83010 Summonte AV, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
E. Tropeano
E. Tropeano
4Gruppo Speleologico Natura Esplora, via Reanni 3 - 83010 Summonte AV, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Supply (2010) 10 (4): 647–655.
Citation
G. De Feo, S. De Gisi, C. Malvano, D. Capolongo, S. Del Prete, M. Manco, F. Maurano, E. Tropeano; Historical, biological and morphological aspects of the Roccarainola qanat in the district of Naples, Italy. Water Supply 1 September 2010; 10 (4): 647–655. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2010.115
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
eBook
Pay-Per-View Access
$38.00