The current state of research on the architecture of watermills in the Ros River basin

In the Ros River basin, watermills are often the oldest examples of industrial architecture. The majority of surviving watermills were constructed from stone and brick and have been in existence for hundreds of years. However, many of these structures are in a state of disrepair, having been rebuilt or damaged. The purpose of this paper is to summarise the accumulated knowledge on the watermills of the region and identify areas for further research that will contribute to the preservation of watermills as cultural and architectural heritage sites. According to the defined criteria, 31 articles were selected, reviewed, and analysed, and the research findings were supported by data from more than 30 additional sources. This review covers the evolution and distribution of watermills in the Ros River basin across different historical periods, along with current efforts to identify individual watermills. Additionally, it presents the findings of studies on the architectural and technical condition of watermills. Three main areas requiring further investigation were identified: the identification and analysis of the content of historical sources, the identification of watermills, and architectural studies. In accordance with the identified gaps, the paper provides recommendations for future desk and field research.