Ancient water channels and possible wartime bomb craters may lie hidden beneath Pompeii, according to new research that used advanced scanning technology to examine the Roman city’s underground remains. The findings reveal possible traces of ancient drainage systems, earlier buildings, and damage caused by World War II bombing.
The study, led by Valentina Santoro and published in the journal Archaeological Prospection, focused on the Great Gymnasium, an ancient athletic complex near Pompeii’s amphitheater. Researchers combined drone imagery, ground-penetrating radar, and electrical surveys to investigate buried structures without excavation.
Scans reveal possible ancient water channels beneath Pompeii
The Great Gymnasium was built during the reign of Emperor Augustus in the early first century A.D. It served as a center for physical training before Mount Vesuvius buried Pompeii in A.D. 79. The complex features a large courtyard with a swimming pool at its center. Underground scans revealed several long, narrow features extending toward the pool, suggesting they may have formed part of its water system.
Some features appear to connect with the pool’s corners. Researchers believe they may have carried rainwater collected from surrounding covered walkways or drained water from the pool.
Two other underground features align with a known water channel north of the complex. Their position suggests a possible connection to Pompeii’s wider water network. Similar Roman water systems used channels and pipes to distribute water across ancient cities. Other buried structures may predate the gymnasium itself.
New scans have revealed possible ancient water channels and World War II bomb craters beneath the Roman city. The findings offer fresh clues about Pompeii's forgotten infrastructure and its wartime past. pic.twitter.com/o6bi6jskPp
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) October 16, 2026
Archaeologists believe earlier buildings were demolished to make room for the complex. Separate research on ancient building materials in Pompeii has also highlighted the city’s changing construction history.
Possible World War II bomb craters identified
The surveys also revealed circular and oval features that may mark bomb impacts from World War II. Pompeii suffered extensive aerial bombardment in August and September 1943. Historical records indicate that at least 10 bombs struck the Great Gymnasium area between Sept. 15 and 18. Wartime photographs documented the damage but did not establish the precise location of every impact.
By combining radar and electrical measurements, researchers identified several possible crater locations. One feature stood out as the strongest candidate because of its distinct boundaries and unusually high electrical resistance. Other rounded features may also mark bomb impacts. However, researchers say excavation is needed to establish their origins.
Advanced scanning technology could guide future excavations
The investigation combined ground surveys conducted in 2021 with drone imagery collected in 2023. Researchers examined an area covering approximately 165,800 square feet. The drones captured 600 images, helping scientists map changes in vegetation and soil moisture that could indicate buried structures. Ground-penetrating radar detected features up to about 6.6 feet below the surface, while electrical surveys examined underground layers reaching approximately 33 feet deep.
The combined measurements also identified a linear feature that may contain an empty or partly empty passage, possibly linked to ancient water infrastructure. Researchers say the findings could help archaeologists identify promising excavation sites while limiting disturbance to fragile remains. The approach could also support investigations elsewhere in Pompeii, where additional underground structures may preserve evidence of the city’s development before the volcanic eruption.
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