This relic was dug from the ruins of Pompeii, buried circa 79 A.D. The copper alloy parts are identical to modern day counterparts.

[tigerbeetle]

 

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[Tesorodeoro]

View attachment 2070675

What is it?

 

[galenrog]

Modern plumbing found at an excavation site. Happens frequently. Many archaeological sites near populated areas are found when municipal projects require digging. Pompeii is no different.

Time for more coffee.

 

[Emil W]

Modern plumbing found at an excavation site. Happens frequently. Many archaeological sites near populated areas are found when municipal projects require digging. Pompeii is no different.

Time for more coffee.

I wouldn't consider it "modern plumbing".

Nothing is created in a vacuum--everything is based on something that came before. In this case, what came before are the basics of the valve, which were designed millennia ago. But modern advances have made it better in too many ways to mention here, so ancient plumbing is not modern plumbing. Simply how technologies advance.

But I get where you're coming from so you can ignore everything I've said.

 

[Plumbata]

Modern plumbing

No, those are classically Roman valves, of a standardized style found all across the empire. They were pioneers in the art of plumbing and even had something akin to water utilities where the rich would pay for water service from the aqueduct or reservoir based on the diameter of their pipe/valve. If they failed to pay then their water would be turned off. An authentic Roman bronze valve is one of my most desired artifacts, for me they're about as quintessentially "Roman" as it gets. I have a hunch that many have been scrapped in ignorance and that eventually I may find someone selling one cheap under the assumption that it's only a few hundred years old, a hunch corroborated by what you posted.

 

[Kray Gelder]

So it is. More Roman water valves. From Pompeii.

 

[RKW]

Ancient Roman Valves ​

https://www.valvemagazine.com/articles/ancient-roman-valves[/url