Given their indisputable importance for settlement development in arid and semi-arid environments, irrigation systems have long been one of the focal points of Central Asian archaeology. Unlike the lowlands of Northern Bactria, where decades of mechanized agriculture have largely erased traces of ancient irrigation, the much better-preserved foothill zones offer a unique opportunity for their study. This paper draws on the fieldwork of the Czech-Uzbekistani Archaeological Expedition in the foothills of the Kugitang mountain range, southern Uzbekistan. Special attention is paid to the dry valley, which hosted a Late Antique settlement of Kulal Tepa, however, for most of its past, it seems that seasonal use has been predominant there. Utilizing remote sensing, results of pedestrian survey, and OSL dating, this study explores the variety and long-term transformations of water management in the Kulal Tepa valley. The gathered evidence links the peak of the (Late) Antique human activities with the existence of a 5,5 km long canal fed from the Loylagan Say river – a feature that likely remained in use until the Soviet period. However, the research reveals a more complex hydraulic landscape: a sophisticated network of contour canals was developed, partly integrated with the main canal and partly operating as independent units. This network served not only for irrigation but indicates a deliberate, well-planned strategy of landscape water retention and rainwater harvesting.

First Author: Jakub Havlík

Co-Authors: Jan Petřík, Nikola Mořkovská