Roman Builders Facing the Risk of Disaster: Coupling Archaeological and Geochemical Analyses on a Section of the ‘Aqua Augusta’ (the Roman Serino Aqueduct,Southern Italy)

Four samples of carbonate sinters from two sites of the Roman Serino aqueduct were studied in order to better constrain the history of the aqueduct and to estimate to what extent natural hazards can be recorded in such deposits. Micromorphological observations, trace element, stable oxygen and carbon isotope analyses were performed on the samples. Together with new quantitative observations on the construction techniques of the aqueduct, our results highlight the imprint left by geological hazards on the Serino aqueduct. Damage, disruption, ground movement and a debris‐flow are evidenced.