18 July 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

Poseidon Temple in Greece Larger than Previously Assumed

27 January 2024

27 January 2024

New excavations at Kleidi-Samikon in Greece’s Western Peloponnese show that the temple, discovered in 2022, is more monumental than previously...

Two Infant burials found under prehistoric “Dragon Stone” in Armenia

4 June 2024

4 June 2024

An international team of researchers has unearthed the remains of an adult woman and two infants buried under a basalt...

A new chapter in the Hittite world is revealed by painted hieroglyphs discovered in the Hattusa Yerkapı tunnel

30 April 2024

30 April 2024

The painted hieroglyphs discovered in 2022 in the Yerkapı Tunnel in Hattusa, the capital of the Hittites, one of the...

Earliest Known Stone Mold for Coin Production in Roman Hispania Unearthed

27 March 2025

27 March 2025

Researchers from the University of Jaén have made a groundbreaking discovery at the archaeological site of Obulco, modern-day Porcuna, revealing...

The Nightmare of the Roman Soldiers “Carnyx”

9 July 2023

9 July 2023

The Carnyx was a brass musical instrument used as a psychological weapon of war by the ancient Celts between 300...

40 Skeletons in Giant Jars Found in the Corsica Necropolis

16 May 2021

16 May 2021

Archaeologists working on the French island of Corsica discovered around 40 ancient graves where persons were buried inside gigantic jars...

The ‘extraordinary’ Roman mosaic depicting scenes from Homer’s Iliad unearthed in a Rutland farmer’s field is the first of its kind in England

25 November 2021

25 November 2021

The 1,500-year-old mosaic discovered by a farmer was considered Britain’s “most exciting” Roman find. The artwork was discovered on private...

The newly discovered fossils are 200,000 years old in Denisova Cave

29 November 2021

29 November 2021

Scientists have discovered the earliest remains of a human lineage known as the Denisovans. Researchers have identified stone artifacts connected...

Neanderthals of the North

13 May 2022

13 May 2022

Were Neanderthals really as well adapted to life in the cold as previously assumed, or did they prefer more temperate...

Statue Head of Goddess Tyche Discovered in Bulgaria

8 December 2024

8 December 2024

A remarkably crafted head of a large statue of the Greek goddess Tyche was recently unearthed during the excavations of...

Temple of Olympian Zeus Horse Frieze Found a Depth of 9 Meters off the Coast of Agrigento, Sicily

5 February 2024

5 February 2024

A large marble relief believed to have been part of the Temple of Olympian Zeus frieze in Agrigento, Sicily, has...

Stonehenge’s Altar Stone May Be From Scotland, Over 700 Kilometers Away

14 August 2024

14 August 2024

Recent research led by Curtin University suggests that the Altar Stone at Stonehenge may have originated in northeast Scotland, at...

The latest excavations in the ancient city of Dülük will shed light on the history of different religions

11 October 2021

11 October 2021

It is thought that the ancient city of Dülük, one of the 25 oldest settlements in the world, will shed...

In Switzerland, a Roman amphitheater was discovered during the construction of boathouse

21 January 2022

21 January 2022

Archaeologists from Aargau Cantonal Archaeology have announced the discovery of a Roman amphitheater in Kaiseraugst, located in the canton of...

7,000-year-old discovery in Umm Jirsan Cave

28 June 2021

28 June 2021

Archaeologists have made new discoveries in the Umm Jirsan cave in the Harrat Khaybar lava field in northern Saudi Arabia....