Rediscovering the Heartland of Cities

Marchetti, Nicolo'; Zaina, Federico

doi:10.1086/708510

Cited by 7 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…These artificial watercourses belong to different periods, generally originating from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers or major canals. Their association with specific periods and their connection with settlements has been discussed elsewhere (Marchetti et al, 2019; Marchetti & Zaina, 2020).…”

Section: The Qadis Survey Projectmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…This broader scope called for a multidisciplinary approach integrating archaeology, philology, geoarchaeology and geomatics. Our investigations led to a new understanding of the multilayered historical landscape extending from the ancient site of Nippur to the north to Tell Jidr/Karkara to the south (Marchetti & Zaina, 2020). We selected this portion of the Mesopotamian floodplain, extending over 1829 km 2 (Figure 2), for its high relevance for the study of the early history of the region, as it includes both the Euphrates and Tigris watercourses, as well as some of the most important Mesopotamian centres, such as Adab, Puzrish‐Dagan, Karkara and Mashkan‐ili‐Akkade.…”

Section: The Qadis Survey Projectmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Since we intended to improve current narratives based on the research questions that have emerged thus far, we decided to take into account robust geoarchaeological work within the Iraqi‐Italian joint QADIS survey project conducted between 2016 and 2020 in the eastern Qadisiyah governorate (Marchetti et al, 2017, 2019, 2020; Marchetti & Zaina, 2020).…”

Section: The Qadis Survey Projectmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study area was chosen for the availability of pre‐existing mapping of anthropic hydraulic evidence, based on several airborne and spaceborne data sets followed by intensive ground truthing, and obtaining an updated chronology from surface ceramic materials (Marchetti et al, 2017, 2019; Marchetti & Zaina, 2020). Starting from this well‐established approach, the most promising cases of ancient canals and intraurban harbours were selected for auger drillings aiming to date these hydraulic structures.…”

Section: Introduction and Aimsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the narratives described above have been confirmed in recent decades, these interpretations mostly rely on regional studies (Adams, 1981; Aqrawi, 2001; Jotheri et al, 2016; Pournelle, 2003) and ample chronological phases often working at a millennial scale (Jotheri et al, 2018; Morozova, 2005; Wilkinson & Rayne, 2010; Wilkinson et al, 2015). Our goal, instead, was to update the current narrative by analysing a specific area (Marchetti et al, 2017, 2019; Marchetti & Zaina, 2020). Furthermore, our case studies cover specific periods of occupation, thus allowing fine‐tuned analysis of water management changes in a short‐ and medium‐term perspective (spanning centuries rather than millennia).…”

Section: Introduction and Aimsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of water management strategies in southern Mesopotamia during the fourth and third millennium B.C.E.

Mantellini,

Picotti,

Al‐Hussainy

et al. 2024

Geoarchaeology

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The last two decades witnessed increasing scholarly interest in the history of water management in southern Mesopotamia. Thanks to many geoarchaeological research projects conducted throughout the central and southern Iraqi floodplains, a general understanding of the macrophases of anthropogenic manipulation of this vast hydraulic landscape has been achieved. However, current narratives mostly rely on studies at a regional scale and are based on excessively long chronological phases (often spanning a whole millennium). A finer‐tuned analysis at a submillennial scale is needed to better appreciate the dynamics that led to the development of artificial canals and irrigation systems and the creation of harbours in cities and other navigation‐related facilities. The Iraqi‐Italian QADIS project is addressing this issue through a systematic geoarchaeological investigation in the south‐eastern area of the Qadisiyah province. We aim to update the current narrative by analysing case studies involving specific periods of occupation. We performed 17 boreholes to propose a date on the functioning period of the hydraulic works in five selected archaeological sites of this region. This approach allowed us to understand changes in water management strategies in both the short and the medium term (i.e., on a scale of centuries). In this paper, we present the results for the fourth and third millennia B.C.E. This period witnessed a crucial passage from the basic exploitation of natural watercourses for irrigation and occasional navigation to the emergence of the first system of artificial canals and intraurban harbours.

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Section: The Qadis Survey Projectmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: The Qadis Survey Projectmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: The Qadis Survey Projectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction and Aimsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction and Aimsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Development of water management strategies in southern Mesopotamia during the fourth and third millennium B.C.E.

Mantellini,

Picotti,

Al‐Hussainy

et al. 2024

Geoarchaeology

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A multi‐temporal satellite‐based risk analysis of archaeological sites in Qazvin plain (Iran)

Zaina

Mazloumi

2021

Archaeological Prospection

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In recent decades, we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the risks and damages to archaeological sites and heritage places across the globe. By analysing a case study (the Qazvin plain) in northern Iran, we propose a classification of the types of risks and damages to archaeological sites and we assess the impact of each type over the last 40 years (1980s-2020s). Our research methodology consists of the crosscorrelated multi-temporal analysis of different sets of satellite imagery with 167 archaeological sites in the Qazvin plain to determine the types, extension and evolution of the damages over the time. This methodology allowed to develop a three-tier hierarchical framework based on the drivers, threats, and actions jeopardizing the cultural heritage of the region. The result of this study permits to overturn current narratives inferring that the most impacting risks to archaeological sites and heritage places are caused by natural hazards, looting and violent destruction rather than agricultural activity or construction. Consequently, based on this evidence, we draw a distinction between 'silent' but constant and pervasive and 'loud' but short-living and circumscribed risks.

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The Later Phases of Southern Mesopotamian Urbanism: Babylonia in the Second and First Millennia BC

Baker

2022

J Archaeol Res

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Rediscovering the Heartland of Cities

Cited by 7 publications

References 13 publications

Development of water management strategies in southern Mesopotamia during the fourth and third millennium B.C.E.

Development of water management strategies in southern Mesopotamia during the fourth and third millennium B.C.E.

A multi‐temporal satellite‐based risk analysis of archaeological sites in Qazvin plain (Iran)

The Later Phases of Southern Mesopotamian Urbanism: Babylonia in the Second and First Millennia BC

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