Hydrology of the combination irrigation system in the Wadi Faynan, Jordan

Abstract

Original article can be found at : http://www.sciencedirect.com/ Copyright ElsevierThe field system of the Wadi Faynan in southern Jordan was fed by an ancient combination irrigation system that incorporated runoff farming and diversion irrigation techniques. The hydraulic characteristics of this system were most probably designed to take advantage of the confluence of three tributary streams. A theoretical model of discharge produced by runoff is based on contemporary ground conditions and historic climate reconstructions. The design principles of the main hydraulic features are examined and velocity and discharge measurements in principal conveyance irrigation channels are reconstructed. The design of this hydraulic system took into account the environmental constraints and opportunities of the area and maximized different sources of water in the catchment using various techniques of water collection

A ‘marginal’ region with many options: the diversity of Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age socio-economic activities in the hinterland of Jawa

“…For example, they are known from the Wadi Faynan, where such fields may be attributed to the Early Bronze Age (Barker et al 2007: 250, 256-57;Newson et al 2007;Crook 2009Crook : 2428. 5 Wadi floodwater irrigation systems have also been hypothesized for Chalcolithic sites in the Negev (see Levy 1983).…”

“…1), located upon a volcano with a large fractioned crater 5 Notably, elevations in close proximity to the gardens WF 3-6, which Crook (2009) considered to be the associated catchment area, are small and are situated in a region with very low precipitation. Nevertheless, it still appears that these types of terraced fields were irrigated using floodwater from the Wadi Faynan or its tributaries, the catchment area of which also includes regions in the easterly uplands of the rift valley with higher precipitation rates.…”

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) hydrological modeling in archaeology: an example from the origins of irrigation in Southwest Arabia (Yemen)

“…Advances in DEM availability will undoubtedly continue to expand the range and improve the resolution of modeling opportunities. Geographic Information Systems-based approaches are likely to be increasingly combined with non-spatial quantitative hydrological modeling (e.g., Crook, 2009;Whitehead et al, 2008). For example, HEC-GeoRAS software (US Army Corps of Engineers, 2009) interfaces with GIS to facilitate modeling of channel hydraulics and holds a wealth of opportunities for archaeological analyses of water flow and irrigation.…”

Environmental impacts of ancient copper mining and metallurgy: Multi-proxy investigation of human-landscape dynamics in the Faynan valley, southern Jordan

“…These floodwaters were harvested by ancient farmers who constructed the agricultural terraces that are standing to this day (Crook, 2009;Newson et al, 2007). Investigation of the agricultural terraces, which are grouped into eight field systems, suggests their use began by the Early Bronze Age, if not earlier, although the most intensive use of the terraces dates to the Iron Age and the late Roman period (Mattingly et al, 2007a, Mattingly, et al, 2007b.…”