Settlement and Landscape Transformations in the Amuq Valley, Hatay

Hydraulic landscapes and imperial power in the Near East

“…Archaeological sites associated with these three branch channels provide ''dates by association'' for the canals thereby indicating that diversions had been made from perhaps the first century BC through to the Early Islamic period (Fig. 8;de Giorgi and Eger in Gerritsen et al 2008). By the Early Islamic period the association of archaeological sites with the silt/sand levee of canal B was particularly clear (AS 185, 224 and 257) thus demonstrating that this canal continued in use until at least this time.…”

“…In addition, diversions of the Afrin River led the water via three different canals or canalized rivers to form the arcs A,B and C to the north and east of the Lake ( Fig. 8; Gerritsen et al 2008). Archaeological sites associated with these three branch channels provide ''dates by association'' for the canals thereby indicating that diversions had been made from perhaps the first century BC through to the Early Islamic period (Fig.…”

“…By the Early Islamic period the association of archaeological sites with the silt/sand levee of canal B was particularly clear (AS 185, 224 and 257) thus demonstrating that this canal continued in use until at least this time. The Afrin canals led directly into the Lake of Antioch, which existed in Roman times but not much earlier (Wilkinson 1997;Casana 2003;Gerritsen et al 2008), to discharge excess flow into the lake causing it to expand and form perimeter marshlands around the lake as noted by Islamic historians (Wilkinson 1997;Eger in Gerritsen et al 2008).…”

Regional power and local ecologies: Accumulated population trends and human impacts in the northern Fertile Crescent

“…Ceramics on the associated sites date the later phase of canal construction to the early Islamic period, the 7 th and early 8 th centuries AD, (Eger, 2011), at which time the lake and its reed-fringed marshes appear to have expanded eastwards. Although it is likely that no single factor contributed to the expansion of the Amuq Lake and its marshes, a combination of accelerated alluvial deposition, flooding, riverine avulsions, increased runoff from the surrounding uplands, and the outfall of excess irrigation water from canals contributed to the development and growth of the lakes and marshes (Wilkinson 1997;Casana, 2004;Eger, 2011;Gerritsen et al, 2008). Overall, these canals not only reduced the flow of the ancient Afrin River, but also discharged excess flow into marshes which therefore expanded accordingly.…”

The Swamps of Home: Marsh Formation and Settlement in the Early Medieval Near East

“…On the whole, the effects of marshification are evident in changing settlement patterns on the Amuq Plain. 126 As the wetlands grew from the Lake of Antioch, occupation gradually shifted from seventhcentury occupation in the west near the lake to early ʿAbbāsid and Middle Islamic settlement to the east. However, the expansion of wetlands (in some cases to lakes) did not cause all settlements to be abandoned.…”