Irrigation systems in the Iraqi Western Desert: Abu Jir Springs line as a case study

Jotheri, J; Al-Mayali, R; Al-Gburi, A; Rayne, L; Al-Gabri, A; Haddad, A; Al-Hamzah, M

doi:10.32028/9781805831099

Irrigation systems in the Iraqi Western Desert: Abu Jir Springs line as a case study

Lookup NU author(s): Ali Algburi, Dr Louise Rayne ORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).

Abstract

This volume explores the under-researched archaeology of Islamic irrigation and water management from the 7th to 19th centuries. Through diverse case studies, it highlights past hydraulic ingenuity and its potential to inspire sustainable solutions for today’s environmental and climate challenges.The archaeology of irrigation technology and water management encompasses a wide range of structures – subterranean tunnels (qanāts, falaj, foggara, ghayl etc.), reservoirs, cisterns, canals, aqueducts, tanks, fountains, water mills, wells, dams, barrages - in a variety of contexts - mountains, deserts, forests, agricultural, horticultural, urban, village, military, riverine, estuarine, coastal, lacustrine – and over a long time period from the seventh through to nineteenth centuries. However, in many areas the archaeology of these facilities remains little explored. This volume begins to rectify this through a variety of case studies examining the diverse ways that past populations have developed hydraulic infrastructure for moving and managing water across the Islamic World. It also considers how past human ingenuity in developing hydraulic infrastructure, now often fallen into disrepair and dis-use, could hold lessons for the present and offer solutions for the future as humanity faces the challenges of environmental and climate change.