Ancient Mesopotamian Irrigation System Uncovered Near Eridu

Researchers reveal a vast network of canals, offering new insights into early agricultural practices and water management.

A well-preserved irrigation network, dating back to the sixth century BC to the early first millennium BC, was discovered near Eridu in southern Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq.
The system includes over 200 primary canals and 4,000 secondary canals, irrigating more than 700 agricultural plots using water from the Euphrates River.
Advanced techniques like satellite imagery, drone photography, and fieldwork were employed to map the canals, which were preserved due to a historical shift in the Euphrates' course that left the area uninhabited.
The canals demonstrate the ingenuity of ancient farmers, who used natural features like elevated river levees and gravity to efficiently distribute water across fields.
Researchers aim to date specific canals and compare findings with ancient cuneiform texts to further understand the evolution of agricultural practices in Mesopotamia.