Contexto hidrogeológico de los cabezos de Huelva y el antiguo sistema de abastecimiento de agua

Abstract

Until the end of the 19th century, the water supply of Huelva depended exclusively on the groundwater of a small detrital aquifer constituted by the Huelva 'Cabezos' (local narre for small hills), together with other adjacent materials, which form a relatively high relief cabed "El Conquero" between the rnouths from the Tinto and Odiel rivers with a maximum altitude of 68 m. The main discharge from of this aquifer, and therefore the main point of water supply to the city for many centuries, is the Fuente Vieja (oíd fountain), located on the western slope of the Ganguero. This upweiling probably constituted a permanent natural spring before a complex system of galleries was built, during Roman times, to increase its flow and lead the water towards the oíd urban center. Currently. this water supply, togehter with sorne wells located in the Conquero anea, is only used for the irrigation of small orchards, This paper provides information on the hydrogeological characteristics of the materials that make up the Conquero and surrounding creas, which have conditioned human settlements and, therefore, the origin and development of the city of Huelva. Likewise, the characteristics of the aquifer that supplies Fuente Vieja is analyzed in order to help understand how the supply to Huelva was malle in ancient times and, thus, support the archaeological works that are being cerned out for the study and enhancement of this unique water coilection infrastructure.