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Landscape Archaeology of Southern Mesopotamia: Identifying Features in the Dried Marshes

Author

Listed:
  • Jaafar Jotheri

    (Department of Archaeology, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Diwaniyah 58001, Iraq
    Department of Archaeology, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK)

  • Malath Feadha

    (Department of Archaeology, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Diwaniyah 58001, Iraq)

  • Jassim Al-Janabi

    (Department of Archaeology, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Diwaniyah 58001, Iraq)

  • Raheem Alabdan

    (Department of Geography, University of Thi-Qar, Nasiriayh 64001, Iraq)

Abstract

The landscape of the Mesopotamian floodplain is mainly structured by channel processes, including the formation of levees, meanders, scrollbars, oxbow lakes, crevasse splays, distributary channels, inter-distributary bays, and marshes. Moreover, several human-made features also form and shape this landscape, such as canals, roads, trenches, farms, and settlement sites ranging in size from villages to cities. A significant part of the Mesopotamian floodplain is covered by marshes, especially the southern region. These marshlands have thrived for thousands of years and are well known for their sustainable biodiversity and ecosystem. However, after the deliberate draining of the marshes in the 1990s, the areas have become dry and only small areas of shallow water and narrow strips of vegetation remain. Several kinds of archaeological landscape features have appeared on the surface and can be clearly identified in both ground surveys and with the use of remote sensing tools. This paper aims to determine the type and nature of the preserved archaeological features that appear in the landscape of the dried marshes and whether they are different from other features elsewhere in the Mesopotamian floodplain. An intensive ground survey was carried out in a selected area of the dried marshland, resulting in the identification of six types of archaeological features: settlement sites, rivers, canals, farms, grooves, and roads (hollow ways). These features used to be covered by bodies of deep water and dense zones of vegetation (reeds and papyrus).

Suggested Citation

  • Jaafar Jotheri & Malath Feadha & Jassim Al-Janabi & Raheem Alabdan, 2022. "Landscape Archaeology of Southern Mesopotamia: Identifying Features in the Dried Marshes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-13, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:10961-:d:904905
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michelle de Gruchy & Jaafar Jotheri & Hayder Alqaragholi & Jassim Al-Janabi & Raheem Alabdan & Haneen Al-Talaqani & Ghadeer Almamouri & Hajir Al-Rubaye, 2021. "The Khandaq Shapur: Defense, Irrigation, Boundary, Frontier," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-17, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Qiushi Zou, 2023. "Detecting the Bronze Age Sites by Using CORONA Satellite Photography and UAV Photogrammetry: A Case Study from the Middle of Yangtze River, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-10, March.

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