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Acuniculus, pluralcuniculi, is a diversionary water channel, used by ancient civilizations on theItalian Peninsula. As the general ancient Italian use derives from theEtruscan use, the term has a special significance of Etruscan cuniculi. The city ofVeii was noted for them. The Italian community ofFormello to the north of Veii was named after the numerous cuniculi there.[1]
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.[2]
