Recognition criteria for canals and rivers in the Mesopotamian floodplain

Combining Satellite Multispectral Imagery and Topographic Data for the Detection and Mapping of Fluvial Avulsion Processes in Lowland Areas

“…The long settlement history of this region caused a relevant alteration of the hydrological and sedimentary processes through the flood management and water supply techniques [33,36,38,[53][54][55]. Man-made canals and archaeological sites are detectable in the study area, especially through their relative elevation above the surrounding flat floodplain [56].…”

“…In particular, taking into account the vertical accuracy of the AW3D30 [59,60] and the GDEM2 [59,61], a re-classification of the elevation data using narrow elevation intervals was helpful for the visual inspection of the floodplain features, even those landforms characterized by low or very low topographic relief. Specifically, 1-m interval re-classified DEMs lead to better visualize the higher elevation of the crevasse deposits relative to the surrounding floodplain, the higher elevation of the channel levees [56], as well as to emphasize the visualization of their planform convex geometry.…”

Remote sensing applications for the assessment of the geomorphic response of fluvial systems to the Holocene Climate Changes

“…The highest river discharge occurs during the spring season, while at the end of summer the discharge drops down; in particular, the interannual discharge variability ranges from 1.9-6.3 x 10 10 m 3 for the Tigris, and 1.0-3.6 x 10 10 m 3 for the Euphrates, according to the measurements collected between 1924 and 1946, during the relatively unaltered streamflow (Aqrawi, 2001;Engel and Brückner, 2018). Indeed, both rivers have a strongly seasonal discharge due to the mountainous headwaters, where a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and cold wet winters occurs, while the mean annual precipitation decreases southward where an arid to semiarid climate prevails (Garzanti et al, 2016;2018;Engel and Brückner, 2018).…”

“…In particular, taking into account the vertical accuracy of the AW3D30 (Santillian et al, 2016;Mudd, 2020) and the GDEM2 (Tachikawa et al, 2011;Mudd, 2020), a re-classification of the elevation data using narrow elevation intervals was helpful for the visual inspection of the floodplain features, even those landforms characterized by low or very low topographic relief such as the fluvial landforms and the human-dug canals. Specifically, 1-m interval re-classified DEMs lead to better visualizing the higher elevation relative to the surrounding floodplain of the archaeological mounds, channels and canals' levees and the crevasse deposits (Jotheri, 2018), as well as to emphasize the visualization of their planform convex geometry (Figure 13). The drainage system of the LMP, as well as the ones of other similar lowlands, can be defined as a "suspended drainage system", where the watercourse (i.e., the bankfull channel and its levees) are higher than the surrounding floodplain.…”

The paleoenvironment and depositional context of the Sumerian site of Abu Tbeirah (Nasiriyah, southern Mesopotamia, Iraq)

“…Since the beginning of archaeological research in the area (Woolley, 1962;Adams, 1965Adams, , 1981, the close connection between ancient Mesopotamian cities and the hydrology of the Tigris and Euphrates fluvial systems during the last 6000 yr has been recognized as a pivotal factor for the evolution of the Sumerian society. In particular, the surveys of the last century detected and jointly mapped settlements and water resources (also by using remote sensing techniques) and led researchers to hypothesize a close connection between fluvial dynamics of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers with their tributaries, and the abandonment or reorganization of settlement patterns (Adams, 1965(Adams, , 1981Wilkinson, 2001;Pournelle, 2003Pournelle, , 2007Morozova, 2005;Algaze, 2008;Di Giacomo and Scardozzi, 2012;Jotheri, 2018;Jotheri et al, 2018;Altaweel et al, 2019;Hammer, 2019;Jotheri and Allen, 2020). The resulting depositional context, characterized by floodplains and marshes crossed by an intricate system of natural and artificial channels, was often utilized as waterways for agricultural irrigation and secondarily for fishing and transport.…”