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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.
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