Archaeologists uncover ancient water system in Libya
Archaeologists have discovered the economic section of a city residence in the ancient city of Ptolemais on the Mediterranean coast. The house was equipped with, among other features, an advanced system for collecting drinking water.
Scientists from the University of Warsaw, Poland, returned to Ptolemais in 2023 after a thirteen-year hiatus caused by the civil war in Libya. This city, founded by the Ptolemaic dynasty, played a significant role from the 4th century BC until the Arab conquest in the 7th century AD. This research season focused on studying urban structures, leading to surprising discoveries.
During the June excavations in 2024, archaeologists uncovered the economic section of the city residence. Research indicates that it dates back to the late 2nd to 3rd century AD. This house had a complex water collection system featuring a central basin that channelled rainwater into two underground cisterns. This system demonstrates advanced technical knowledge and a careful approach to water resources.
Human mask
The most remarkable find was a face mask discovered in one of the cisterns. Modelled from hydraulic mortar, the mask lacks any attributes that allow identification. Archaeologists compare it to sculpted faces from the Libyan sanctuary in Slonta.
- The face discovered in the cistern resembles human faces sculpted on the walls of the Libyan sanctuary in Slonta, located south of Cyrene. It cannot be entirely ruled out that the owner of the house, or at least those involved in creating the image, were of Libyan origin. From epigraphic sources, it is known that from at least the 1st century BC, citizenship in the Greek cities of Cyrenaica was also granted to quickly assimilating members of the Libyan elite. However, this is still just speculation – explained Dr Piotr Jaworski.
Archaeologists suspect the residence may have been rebuilt following earthquakes in the 3rd century. This is indicated by the discovered stone containers, which suggest public functions of the house. The containers found, used for collecting taxes or offerings, serve as evidence of intense economic activity in the late Roman period. In describing these findings, researchers emphasise the complexity of cultural and financial interactions of the inhabitants of those times.
