Ancient Romans used a system of stepping stones to cross flooded streets
Massive stone blocks strategically placed across Roman roads allowed pedestrians to navigate muddy, flooded streets without getting their feet wet while still permitting horse-drawn carriages to pass through the gaps.
Engineers in ancient cities like Pompeii installed large basalt blocks as elevated crossings to protect citizens from rainwater and sewage runoff. These stones were spaced precisely so that the wheels of standard Roman carts could pass between them, while the raised carriage chassis cleared the tops of the blocks.
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