Roman water mains still flowing

Archaeologists on a Roman fort dig at Vindolanda in Northumberland have unearthed 30 yards of wooden mains which fed the fort with water from nearby springs. Amazingly, the mains were still working and carrying water - almost 2,000 years after they were first installed. "The fact that they were still working is quite incredible but it was also a nuisance because they flooded the excavation trenches which had to be pumped out every day," said Robin Birley, director of excavations at Vindolanda. The pipes had been created by drilling huge lengths of alder, which were joined together by oak pegs. [UK archaeology]