A groundbreaking study has revealed an extensive network of irrigation canals beneath what is believed to be the world’s first city, as recorded in ancient texts. The newly uncovered system, connected to the Euphrates River, once nourished over 700 farms, showcasing a highly advanced agricultural infrastructure that thrived for centuries.
Researchers used satellite imagery, drone surveys, and historical records to reconstruct the layout of this sophisticated irrigation system. Their findings, published in Antiquity, highlight an intricate design of water management that included:
- 200 primary canals drawing directly from the Euphrates
- 4,000 smaller channels distributing water across the region
- Main canals spanning over 5 miles and reaching widths of up to 16 feet
- Smaller canals measuring just 32 feet long and around 3 to 6 feet wide
Jaafar Jotheri, lead author of the study, shared on social media that all these canals were interconnected, efficiently channeling water to sustain agricultural production for centuries.
Ancient Engineering Feats
The study sheds light on how early Mesopotamian farmers harnessed the natural flow of the Euphrates. Elevated riverbanks allowed gravity to guide water through the channels, while periodic breaks in the levees directed water onto the floodplain. This method not only minimized the need for complex infrastructure but also made large-scale irrigation possible.
Researchers believe these canals evolved from basic trenches dug by early settlers into a sprawling system extending for over 60 miles. The knowledge required to maintain and expand such an advanced irrigation system would have been passed down through generations, shaping the region’s agricultural history.
Preserving a Lost Civilization
One of the most significant discoveries from this study is that the shifting course of the Euphrates eventually led to the abandonment of the city of Eridu, rather than its destruction by human hands. Because Eridu was never built over, its landscape remains remarkably well-preserved, offering an untouched window into the past.
Further excavations could provide precise dating of different canal sections, allowing researchers to compare them with cuneiform tablets that describe ancient agricultural techniques. These findings could reshape our understanding of how early civilizations managed water resources and sustained large populations in arid environments.
As technology continues to advance, archaeologists are uncovering more details about ancient civilizations that were once thought to be lost. What other secrets might be hidden beneath the sands of Mesopotamia?
