28 August 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

Archaeologists have discovered another exceptional find in Mérida

12 August 2023

12 August 2023

In Mérida, Spain, archaeologists recently discovered an “enormous” Roman bath. But it is that inside these baths, in the area...

A Chapel was Found Under the Madonna Tal-Hniena Church in Qrendi, Malta

21 May 2021

21 May 2021

Underneath the Madonna Tal-Hniena church in the village of Qrendi in the south of Malta, the remains of an ancient...

Historical Armenian church 500-year-old in southeastern Turkey set to be restored

6 February 2022

6 February 2022

Work has been initiated to transfer the historical Armenian Church, which was built in the 16th century in the province...

Found Home of the Legendary Viking Woman Who Crossed the Atlantic 500 Years Before Columbus

11 March 2021

11 March 2021

Archaeologists in Iceland recently excavated a farm believed to belong to the legendary Viking woman Gudrid Torbjörnsdottir. She is believed...

1,000-Year-Old Kufic-Inscribed Tombstone Unearthed at Dowlatshahi Mosque in UNESCO-Listed Yazd, Iran

29 July 2025

29 July 2025

In a remarkable archaeological discovery, a nearly 1,000-year-old Kufic-Inscribed tombstone has been unearthed during restoration efforts at the Dowlatshahi Mosque,...

Ground-penetrating radars reveal hidden passages, described in Leonardo’s drawings

16 January 2025

16 January 2025

As part of a PhD thesis, an innovative technological investigation conducted by the Politecnico di Milano, in collaboration with the...

Archaeologists have discovered 85 ancient tombs, a watchtower, and a temple site in Egypt’s Gabal al-Haridi region

5 May 2022

5 May 2022

The Egyptian archaeological mission discovered 85 tombs, a watchtower, and a temple site in the Gabal al-Haridi area of Sohag,...

Viking Family identified using New DNA Technology

9 June 2021

9 June 2021

Researchers were able to confirm the connection between two Viking remains discovered in Denmark and England thanks to new DNA...

Archaeologists Uncover Rare Trojan War-Era Armor from 1200 BCE in Czechia

22 July 2025

22 July 2025

A remarkable archaeological discovery in South Moravia has brought new insights into Bronze Age Europe and its warrior elites. The...

Lead sling bullet inscribed with “Julius Caesar” name found in Spain

5 January 2024

5 January 2024

A lead sling bullet inscribed with the name of Julius Caesar and the Ibero-Roman city Ipsca has been discovered in...

Urartian graves in eastern Turkey pointing out novel burial traditions

21 September 2021

21 September 2021

The excavations in Cavuştepe castle continue with the excavations in the necropolis this year. Two new tombs from the Urartian...

13,000-year-old Clovis campsite discovered in Michigan

10 September 2021

10 September 2021

In St. Joseph County, independent researcher Thomas Talbot and University of Michigan scholars uncovered a 13,000-year-old Clovis campsite, which is...

Vampires Were Born Here: The Forgotten Serbian Village Behind the World’s Oldest Vampire Legend

18 July 2025

18 July 2025

Picture a quiet Balkan village at dusk: the sun dips behind dense forests, mist curls around forgotten gravestones, and the...

6,500-Year-Old Hunting Kit Discovered in West Texas Cave

5 April 2025

5 April 2025

A remarkable archaeological find in the rugged terrain of West Texas is transforming our understanding of the region’s prehistoric inhabitants....

Dingoes were regarded as “almost human” in pre-colonial Australia

21 October 2023

21 October 2023

When it comes to Australia’s wild dingoes, the phrase “a dog is a man’s best friend” takes on new meaning....