4:15 PM - 4:30 PM
[HCG25-04] Cultural hydrology in the arid lands of Arabia: An archaeological origin of falāj traditional irrigation system in Oman
Keywords:Cultural Hydrology, Archaeogeography, Southeast Arabia, Irrigation system, Falaj
Cultural hydrology, the theme of this session, is an approach to understanding the relationship between humans and water resources from cultural aspects and is an old and new discipline rooted in geography. This presentation reviews the history of water resource use and management in the arid lands of Arabia from the perspective of cultural hydrology.
There are traditional underground irrigation canal systems called falāj (pl. aflāj) in the mountainous and foothill areas of the Hajar Mountains across the southeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula (present-day United Arab Emirates and Oman). Recently, archaeological investigations have revealed that the origin of the intake canal dates back to the Early Bronze Age, 5,000 years ago. From this time, settlements, most of which are the origins of today's oases, were formed on the terrace beside the alluvial lowland of various regions. In these settlements, circular platforms called towers were built. The towers, with a well in the centre, are presumed to have been water utilization facilities in the early phase. However, they became larger and more monumental than utilitarian in the later phase. It seems that the development of water utilization technology was undoubtedly linked to the development of society.
There are traditional underground irrigation canal systems called falāj (pl. aflāj) in the mountainous and foothill areas of the Hajar Mountains across the southeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula (present-day United Arab Emirates and Oman). Recently, archaeological investigations have revealed that the origin of the intake canal dates back to the Early Bronze Age, 5,000 years ago. From this time, settlements, most of which are the origins of today's oases, were formed on the terrace beside the alluvial lowland of various regions. In these settlements, circular platforms called towers were built. The towers, with a well in the centre, are presumed to have been water utilization facilities in the early phase. However, they became larger and more monumental than utilitarian in the later phase. It seems that the development of water utilization technology was undoubtedly linked to the development of society.