World's Oldest City Had a Massive Canal System, Experts Uncover an Ancient Irrigation Network in Eridu

Throughout history, several ancient civilizations have built impeccable infrastructure, including detailed canal systems and civic systems, to sustain their ever-growing populations. From the Indus Valley to Ancient Egypt, these water management plans played a major role in agriculture and urban development. One such iconic discovery has come to light, unraveling new details of the advanced engineering of early societies, stated LBV.

In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists have unraveled a vast and sophisticated irrigation system in Eridu, an ancient Mesopotamian city believed to be the world’s oldest according to historical sources. This major network of more than 4,000 canals and 700 farms reveals the ingenuity of early civilizations in water management, offering new insights into the agricultural foundations of Mesopotamia. Eridu, situated in present-day southern Iraq, was once a thriving metropolis along the Euphrates River. The study, conducted by an international team of archaeologists and geologists, has identified and discovered an intricate web of irrigation channels that predates the first-millennium B.C.E.

Using top-notch and advanced sensing technology, including high-resolution satellite imagery and drone footage, researchers have reconstructed a landscape that once flourished with agricultural activity. In a statement, Durham University shared, "This ground-breaking discovery not only enhances our understanding of ancient irrigation systems but also highlights the ingenuity and adaptability of early farmers," stated Live Science.

The findings show that the primary canals in this network expanded up to nine kilometers in length and ranged between two and five meters in width. These main canals connected directly to the ancient course of the Euphrates, allowing water to surrounding farms. Researchers mapped over 700 agricultural plots, varying in size from 500 to 20,000 square meters, structured around these irrigation channels, stated The Independent. Study authors wrote, "A shift in the ancient course of the Euphrates River left this region dry and consequently unoccupied after the early first millennium B.C. until now…This has allowed the archaeological landscape of this region to remain intact and thus we were able to identify and map a vast, intensive, and well-developed network of irrigation canals that pre-date the early first millennium BC."

Unlike other Mesopotamian cities, where later civilizations built over older irrigation systems, Eridu’s water management system remained largely unbothered, facilitating an unprecedented glimpse into early agricultural practices. Study authors added, "This reconstructed network of irrigation canals represents the combined agricultural activities for all the periods of occupation in the region and it is unlikely that all of the canals were running simultaneously during the entire occupation period (i.e. from the sixth until the early first millennium BC)." Their findings confirm that these canals were not a random occurrence but part of a major organized and sustainable water management strategy. Researchers wrote, "The main canals are directly connected to the ancient course of the Euphrates and are between 1km and 9km long and between 2m and 5m wide…Both sides of the river were canalized and farmed, although farmers exploited the northern side more heavily than the southern side," according to The Independent.

These revelations highlight the complexity of Mesopotamian agriculture, which was not solely dependent on the natural fertility of the land but required impeccable engineering, stated LBV. Researchers revealed, "Canals require immense labor and experience in water management to operate successfully. Therefore, it is essential to conduct additional research on the chronology of the canals to better understand changes in the irrigation systems and agricultural landscape over time."