A Simulation Study Air Pollution Impact from Roman Potteries in Augusta Treverorum (Trier)

This study models the dispersion of historic air pollution from pottery kilns in the Roman city Augusta Treverorum (Trier). It aims to improve the understanding of their impact on urban air quality during different historical phases. Utilizing archaeological data on pottery locations and historical urban growth patterns, we simulated air pollution levels across the city, focusing on periods before and after the relocation of pottery kilns from various sites spread out over the settlement area to a confined pottery district near the Mosel River. This district is locate in the southwest corner of the city, which is striking as this position is upwind to the city center for the most frequent wind directions along the valley axis. All modern smoke-emitting industry accordingly is found in the opposite northeastern part of the city.

For the simulation we used the German regulatory pollution dispersion model AUSTAL, driven by weather data from the European reanalysis. The sources were modeled after measurements taken during experimental pottery production by LEIZA, Mains in a reconstructed kiln. We found that pollution from the sites spread out over the city predominantly affected the city's northern half, where significant buildings such as the Emperor's Palace and temples were located. The production sites in the pottery district, in contrast, have been impacting the southern part of the city, that must have been a predominantly residential area. This impact is rather independent from the location of a kiln inside the pottery district. The results suggests that this pattern is not a random outcome, but a result urban planning decisions in Augusta Treverorum that were influenced by air pollution, demonstrating a historic example of industrial activity's environmental implications.