Landscape Archaeology of the Eridu Region: Discovering the Irrigation Systems of Ancient Farms

Ancient irrigation systems in the Eridu region, part of the Ahwar of Southern Iraq, reveal a sophisticated agricultural landscape spanning from the fifth to the second millennium B.C. This discovery, based on remote sensing and field surveys, shows that canals and crevasse splays near the relict Euphrates were integral to Eridu's occupation, providing insight into early water management technologies. High-resolution satellite imagery, including VISION-1 and Google Earth data, mapped overlapping channels, indicating sequential irrigation development. Fieldwork in 2020, combined with AMS dating of samples from canals and the Euphrates, confirmed the chronology, linking these systems to Eridu's agricultural hinterland.

Rayne, L., de Gruchy, M., Jotheri, J., & Abdan, R. (2026). LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE ERIDU REGION: DISCOVERING THE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS OF ANCIENT FARMS. Iraq, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1017/irq.2025.10037