Degree Date
2026
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology
Abstract
Cities in the Roman Decapolis relied on hydraulic engineering to sustain urban centers, and access to and use of water were shaped by power dynamics, managed through infrastructure, and governed by actors ranging from imperial administration to local communities. Urban water systems in this region mediated relationships between landscape, built infrastructure, and civic life. Focusing on the Transjordan Decapolis (modern Jordan), this dissertation examines water distribution and use in Jerash, Gadara, and Amman during the Roman period (1st century BCE– 4th century CE) through the lens of post-colonialism. Utilizing a post-colonial framework, it examines the entanglement of Roman, regional, and local water infrastructures and practices to better understand how this micro-region was situated within Southwest Asia.
The research begins by identifying and documenting known water infrastructure, including channels, cisterns, reservoirs, fountains, and other distribution and storage features, and mapping them to reconstruct how these components were connected. The network is then examined to assess how water was distributed across the city and how different parts of the urban fabric were integrated into the supply system. The final stage of analysis evaluates the buildings and spaces supplied by this infrastructure to determine patterns of water use. Drawing on entanglement theory to understand the production of social practices and urban form, this study examines a range of buildings linked to water supply and distribution to assess and reveal the civic priorities and water use practices within the Decapolis. This approach highlights the ii i interaction between broader imperial and regional practices and locally adapted solutions within each city.
The findings reveal a highly adaptable model of water supply in the Decapolis. Urban planning often prioritized decentralized distribution, with large storage facilities integrated into public architecture to meet practical and aesthetic needs. Water is consistently used in baths, latrines, and fountains across all three sites, but it also appears in sacred spaces and theaters in ways that reflect locally adapted religious practices. Ultimately, this research demonstrates that, while the Decapolis participated and was entangled in the broader cultural milieu of the Roman East, Jerash, Gadara, and Amman also maintained distinctive local innovations and urban identities.
Citation
Rasmussen, Clare. 2026. "Water and the City: Roman Water Distribution and Use in the Transjordan Decapolis." PhD Diss, Bryn Mawr College.