A cuniculus, plural cuniculi, is a diversionary water channel, used by ancient civilizations on the Italian Peninsula. As the general ancient Italian use derives from the

Etruscan __NOTOC__ Etruscan may refer to: Ancient civilization *Etruscan civilization (1st millennium BC) and related things: **Etruscan language ** Etruscan architecture **Etruscan art **Etruscan cities **Etruscan coins **Etruscan history **Etruscan myt ...

use, the term has a special significance of Etruscan cuniculi. The city of

Veii Veii (also Veius; ) was an important ancient Etruscan city situated on the southern limits of Etruria and north-northwest of Rome, Italy. It now lies in Isola Farnese, in the comune of Rome. Many other sites associated with and in the city-st ...

was noted for them. The Italian community of

Formello Formello is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital. It is located southwest of the Monti Sabatini, within the Regional Park of Veii. The communal territory sits on large deposits of tuff, which is intensively mined i ...

to the north of Veii was named after the numerous cuniculi there. Cuniculi could take any form from trenches to a complex system of tunnels. The uses were multiple: irrigation, drainage, diversion, supply, and so on. The Romans used the cuniculi of Veii to mine into the citadel. Cuniculi have multiple purposes. One of them was to keep villages and cities safe from erosion. North-west of Rome 42 km of cuniculi have been discovered; more than 22 km in and around Veii.from: Time Life "The Etruscs" p. 23 second column, p. 24 first column (Dutch edition)

References

{{Etruscans Channels Etruscans