8 June 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Archaeologists Uncover Extensive Ancient Irrigation Network in Eridu, the World’s First City

Recent research by a multidisciplinary team of archaeologists and geologists has revealed that the Eridu region of southern Mesopotamia, inhabited from the sixth to the first millennium BCE, boasts one of the oldest and most well-preserved irrigation networks.

Led by geoarchaeologist Jaafar Jotheri from Durham University, the research team uncovered an extensive water management system that predates the first millennium BC, offering valuable insights into the irrigation practices of ancient farmers.

The Eridu region of southern Mesopotamia, located in present-day Iraq, is one of the best-preserved ancient archaeological sites, having been occupied from the sixth until the early first millennium BC. While our understanding of the irrigation and farming methods used in this ancient city has largely relied on indirect evidence, such as cuneiform tablets, recent research has revealed a vast and well-developed network of irrigation canals that predates the early first millennium BC.

Historically, Mesopotamia depended on the Euphrates River and its tributaries for crop irrigation, with the ability to divert water through canals being crucial for the sustainability of urban settlements. However, many ancient irrigation structures have been buried under fluvial sedimentation or replaced by later networks, complicating the study of early agricultural systems.

In contrast to other regions, the Eridu area was abandoned following a shift in the Euphrates River’s course, allowing its archaeological landscape to remain relatively intact. This unique circumstance has enabled researchers to accurately identify and map a complex network of artificial canals that dates back to before the first millennium BCE, shedding new light on the region’s ancient water management practices.

The reconstructed irrigation canal network in context with the ancient Euphrates riverbed and the archaeological sites of the Eridu region. The base map is a Corona satellite image. Credit: Jaafar Jotheri et al, Antiquity
The reconstructed irrigation canal network in context with the ancient Euphrates riverbed and the archaeological sites of the Eridu region. The base map is a Corona satellite image. Credit: Jaafar Jotheri et al, Antiquity

Unlike other regions, the Eridu area was abandoned following a shift in the Euphrates River’s course, which allowed its archaeological landscape to remain remarkably intact. This unique situation has provided researchers with the opportunity to accurately identify and map a complex network of artificial canals that predates the first millennium BCE.

To conduct this study, archaeologists employed an interdisciplinary approach that combined geomorphological analysis, historical map reviews, and advanced remote sensing technology. They utilized high-resolution satellite imagery, including data from the 1960s CORONA program, as well as drones and ground photography, to validate their findings and enhance the understanding of this ancient irrigation system.

By combining geological maps, satellite imagery, drone photography and fieldwork, researchers identified over 200 primary canals directly connected to the ancient Euphrates.  Additionally, more than 4,000 smaller branch canals were mapped, linked to over 700 farms.

This complex irrigation network showcases the advanced water management skills of ancient Mesopotamian farmers, who skillfully utilized the natural landscape to their advantage. The high river levees facilitated the flow of water by gravity to surrounding fields, while breaks in the levees, known as crevasse splays, effectively distributed water across the floodplain. These techniques enabled farmers to cultivate crops on both sides of the river, although the northern side was more heavily farmed. This observation underscores the strategic utilization of the region’s resources to enhance agricultural productivity.

Ground-truthing of the remote sensing work: A) drone images show two minor irrigation canals; B& C photographs of the two small canals. Credit: J. Jotheri et al.

The study also emphasizes the evolution of the irrigation system over centuries, indicating that the canals necessitated considerable labor and expertise for their maintenance, which suggests that different segments of the network were likely utilized at various times. To gain a deeper understanding of the changes in farming practices over time, further research aims to date each canal. Additionally, comparing the designs of these canals with descriptions found in ancient cuneiform texts could yield valuable insights into agricultural management in Mesopotamia.

The project was funded by the British Institute for the Study of Iraq in London and is a collaboration between Durham, the University of Al-Qadisiyah in Iraq and Newcastle University, UK.

Durham University

Jotheri J, Rokan M, Al-Ghanim A, Rayne L, de Gruchy M, Alabdan R. Identifying the preserved network of irrigation canals in the Eridu region, southern Mesopotamia. Antiquity. Published online 2025:1-7. doi:10.15184/aqy.2025.19

Cover Image Credit: Remnants of small canals in Eridu. Credit: Jaafar Jotheri et al, Antiquity/Durham University

Related Articles

The 11-meter giant statue of the island of Naxos “Dionysus of Apollonas”

22 March 2023

22 March 2023

One of the two ancient marble quarries, thought to have begun the sculpture, the greatest art of antiquity, is located...

Ancient Roman 3rd-century defensive wall found in Germany

24 March 2024

24 March 2024

An exciting archaeological discovery was made during construction work in Aachen’s city center, Germany. At the corner of Pontstrasse and...

A Rare Bilingual Inscription Discovered in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Province

28 June 2024

28 June 2024

Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission announced the discovery of a rare bilingual inscription in the village of Alqan in the Tabuk...

Excavation of the Temple of Athena Began in the Ancient City of Aigai

15 October 2021

15 October 2021

The foundations of the Temple of Athena were unearthed during the ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Aigai, located...

Bronze Age metal hoard discovered in the Swiss Alps at Roman battle site

29 June 2023

29 June 2023

Archaeologists excavating the Switzerland Oberhalbstein valley have discovered a metal hoard containing more than 80 bronze artifacts dating from 1200...

Archaeologists Unearthed a Rare Hoard of Hasmonean Coins in Jordan Valley

31 December 2024

31 December 2024

A team of archaeologists from the University of Haifa discovered a rare hoard of approximately 160 coins during an excavation...

A 2,000-year-old Roman sewage system has been discovered in western Turkey

19 September 2021

19 September 2021

The archaeological excavations carried out in the ancient city of Tripolis in the western province of Denizli’s Buldan district have...

Severe drought in Italy unearths remains of an ancient bridge in Rome

15 July 2022

15 July 2022

Continued severe heat in Italy has uncovered an archaeological treasure in Rome: a bridge reportedly built by the Roman emperor...

A center on the Anatolian Mesopotamian trade route; Tavsanli Mound

24 October 2021

24 October 2021

Excavations at Tavşanlı mound, which is known to be the first settlement in Western Anatolia during the Bronze Age, continue....

The Famous Cueva de Ardales cave in Spain was used by ancient humans for over 50,000 years

8 June 2022

8 June 2022

Cueva de Ardales cave in Málaga, Spain,  famed for the extensive prehistoric art on its walls was excavated for the...

A 2,200-Year-Old Monumental Pyramidal Structure Discovered in the Judean Desert

26 March 2025

26 March 2025

In a remarkable archaeological breakthrough, Israeli archaeologists have uncovered a monumental pyramidal structure in the Judean Desert, dating back 2,200...

A 2,500-year-old celestial map carved on the surface of a circular stone found in Italy

25 December 2023

25 December 2023

Two circular stones measuring 50 centimeters in diameter have been discovered in Castelliere di Rupinpiccolo, an ancient hilltop fortress in...

Researchers find the earliest record of aurora in old Chinese documents

15 April 2022

15 April 2022

Researchers have found the oldest known reference to a candidate aurora in a celestial event, described in an ancient Chinese...

Mystery of Knaresborough Roman hoard revealed by Newcastle experts

13 January 2024

13 January 2024

Archaeologists at Newcastle University have investigated one of the most unusual late-Roman metalware ever discovered in the British Isles. Although...

In northern Iran, a hand-dug passageway was discovered used for military purposes during the Qajar era

1 August 2021

1 August 2021

A hand-dug underground passage dating from the Qajar era (1794-1925), once believed to have served military purposes, has been discovered...