In southern Mesopotamia's floodplains, rivers provided the primary water source since rainfall was scarce and there were neither springs nor accessible groundwater. As a result, effective river management became crucial for irrigation, transportation, daily needs, and the rise and fall of cities and communities. At Zabalam region we have identified ancient rivers, canals, and farmland using satellite images and on-the-ground research. We have also excavated several trenches along certain stretches of these waterways for OSL dating. Early findings show two main rivers running parallel to the site—one north, one south—linked by a connector through the middle, though the upstream and downstream sections are hidden by later sediments. The region features an elaborate canal system that doesn't connect directly to either major river. Instead, the canals create a hierarchy, sharing channels with another irrigation network northeast of the site, which links to additional archaeological sites upstream. In summary, Zabalam’s agricultural and irrigation system consists of various water channels and distributaries that draw from a branch connected to the main canal. This paper examines the methods and treaties used to manage and allocate water resources among cities, districts, farmland, and landowners. Additionally, it addresses challenges related to organising labour for the excavation, maintenance, and construction of canals and dams.

First Author: Muntadher Aloda

Co-Authors: Jaafar Jotheri, Mirko Novak, Tibor Lieskovský

Keywords:
Zabalam
Southern Mesopotamia
Hydraulic landscape
Irrigation systems
Canal hierarchies