Journal of Greater Khorasan

Journal of Greater Khorasan

Traditional control and management of surface water in dry areas using ancient hydraulic structures: a case study of Khosf County

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Hossein Sedighian 1
Hamid Azizi 2
Amir Hoseinian Rad 3
Nikzad Meisam 4
1 Assistant professor in Archaeology, Lorestan University, Khoram-Abad, Iran
2 Assistant professor in Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of literature and humanities, University of Jiroft, Kerman, Iran
3 Assistant professor, Lorestan University, Khoram-Abad, Iran
4 Assistant professor in Archaeology, Shiraz university of Art, Shiraz, Iran
10.22034/jgk.2024.420604.1160
Abstract
Management and control of surface waters, especially in low rainfall areas, is one of the ways to supply water to meet the needs of residents of dry and water-scarce regions of Iran. Khosf County, located in South Khorasan Province, is one of the areas where residents have long been attempting to manage and control surface waters due to water scarcity. In this regard, by creating water structures such as dams and reservoirs, they have tried to control and utilize surface waters resulting from rainfall. A descriptive-analytical method was used to conduct this research. Data collection and organization were based on field and library studies in Khosf County, and some of these structures were identified and their distribution analyzed using GIS software. The main goal of this research is to investigate and analyze the traditional and ancient methods of controlling and managing surface waters and the role of some related structures such as dams and reservoirs in Khosf County. The results of this research indicate that the highest priority in establishing and distributing these structures is proximity to surface water sources (16% for reservoirs and 15% for dams) and then suitable elevation (8% for reservoirs and 10% for dams) for better access to surface waters. Additionally, residents of this area have attempted to control and manage the flow speed of surface waters to enter the dams and reservoirs, considering the slope and suitable direction of the slope. The outcome of these actions has resulted in changes in the region's landscape and mitigating harsh environmental conditions for the continued livelihood of residents.
Keywords
water management
Band-Sar
reservoir
South Khorasan
Khosf
Subjects
  • Abudanh, F. and S. Twaissi (2010), Innovation or Technology Immigration? The Qanat Systems in the Regions of Udhruh and MaŹ¾an in Southern Jordan, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, No. 360, pp. 67-87. DOI:2307/41104419.
  • Ahmed, A. T., El Gohary, F., Tzanakakis, V. A., & Angelakis, A. N. (2020). “Egyptian and Greek water cultures and hydro-technologies in ancient times”. Sustainability, 12(22), 60-97, DOI:3390/su12229760.
  • Akbari,M, Dastorani,M. T., abbasi. A., Aghcheshmeh.F.R., 2021,   Assessment of Effects of Bandsars Use on Soil Properties in Desert Areas (Case Study: Southern Sabzevar Region, Khorasan Razavi, Desert Management Journal, 9(19), 87-102. (in Persian with English abstract), 10.22034/jdmal.2021.535788.1345.
  • Ali abadi,A., Tabatabayi., J., 2019, Bandsar: Indigenous knowledge of flood use, Scientific Association of Rain Catchment Surface Systems of Iran.(In Persian), http://ircsa.ir/files/site1/files/.pdf
  • , B, Mohammadian., F, Sharif, Khadijeh, 2015, Ferdows historical reservoirs with inscriptions in South Khorasan,5(16),13-25,(In Persian), 20.1001.1.22516131.1393.4.16.2.6.
  • Arabkhedri.,M, Partoi., A, Kamali., K., GHaffari, A, Sar reshte, A., 2002, A research project on the impact of sedimentation on the permeability efficiency of traditional flood distribution networks(Bansar), Research Institute of Soil Protection and Watershed Management, (In Press),( In Persian).
  • Arabkhedri,M.,Hakimkhani., Sh., 2003, Investigating the relationship between two ancient technologies of desertification: Bandsar and Qanat, Geographical Research Journal, 18(2), 41-69, (in Persian). http://ensani.ir/file/download/article/20101124102404-pdf.
  • Arabkhedri.,M, Kamali., K.,2017, Bandsar: traditional method of soil and water conservation for flood farming, (InPersian), https://agrilib.areeo.ac.ir/book_3827.pdf, Amuzesh Publication.
  • Arabkhedri.,M, Kamali., K.,Abbasi,A., Design and construction of Bandsar., university of Ferdowsi, Mashhad, (in Persian), https://civilica.com/doc/1164407/.
  • Arabkhedri, M. & Partovi. A. (1997). “Band-Sar; A Practice in Optimum Using of Water and Soil Resources in an Arid Region”, of the 8th Intern. Conf. on Rainwater Catchment Systems, pp.34-40, DOI: 10.4236/jwarp.2010.22020.
  • Brunner, U. (1997). “The history of irrigation in Wadi Marhah”, Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies, 27: 75–85.
  • Ezzati, E., Khezri., M, 2010, The place of Great Khorasan in water geopolitics., Quarterly Bulletin of Greater Khorasan, 2(2), 83-96, (In Persian), https://jgk.imamreza.ac.ir/article_137843_df40185f17eb67a51d9847ec0e1dc123.pdf
  • Harrower, M. J. (2010). “Geographic Information Systems (GIS) hydrological modeling in archaeology: an example from the origins of irrigation in Southwest Arabia (Yemen)”, Journal of Archaeological Science, 37(7), 1447-1452, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2010.01.004.
  • Jahan Tigh.M., Jahan tigh.M., 2018, Effective factors in determining the places prone to the construction of reservoirs in order to provide drinking water for livestock: a case study of West Sistan, The 7th National Conference on Rain Catchment Surface Systems, Tehran Soil Conservation and Watershed Research Institute, 758-765, (in Persian), https://elmnet.ir/doc/21149867-51002.
  • Jahan Tigh.M., 2019, Reservoir is a way to collect runoff in dry areas,Tehran, agricultural education, (in Persian), https://agrilib.areeo.ac.ir/book_7251.pdf.
  • Mahmoudian., M., 1971., History of Irrigation in Iran", History: Journal of Isfahan Faculty of Literature, 1(6), 158-200,( In Persian), https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/31812/.
  • Murphy, P. (2000) “Environmental archaeology: an overview”, in Crowson, A, Laner, T and Reeve, J (eds), Fenland Management Project Excavations 1991–1995. Lincolnshire Archaeol Heritage Rep 3. Heckington: Heritage Lincolnshire, 10–14
  • Mustawfi ., H.,1983, Nuzhat al-Qulub, Translate by: Mirhashem, Mohaddes, Tehran, Donyae Ketab Publication,(In Persian).
  • Reitz, E., & Shackley, M. (2012). Environmental archaeology, Springer Science & Business Media. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4614-3339-2.
  • , J., 1974, Boneh(Collective agricultural production systems before and after agrarian reforms), Tehran, Tous Publication, (in Persian).
  • Salehi., K., Ferestadeh., R, 2012, reservoirs Quhistan, Quarterly Bulletin of Greater Khorasan, 3(8),51-63,  (in Persian with English abstract ), 20.1001.1.22516131.1391.2.8.4.8.
  • Sedighian, H., Nikzad., M, 2014, Report on the investigation and identification of historical monuments of Khosf city, Archives of the General Department of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism of South Khorasan Province, (In Persian),(In Press).
  • Sedighian, H, Nikzad., M.,Oshnuyi, A., Ghasemi., E.,2020.,The Effect of Climatic Conditions on the Structure and Architectural Components of Native/Traditional Houses in Hot and Dry Areas of Khosf County, South Khorasan ,Parseh Journal of Archaeological Studies,4(14), 125-146, (in Persian with English abstract), 20.1001.1.26455048.1399.4.14.10.9.
  • Semsar, A.,2004., Compilation of experiences of aqueduct experts, Yazd: Yazd Regional Water Authority, (in Persian).
  • Seyf, Ahmad. (2006). “On the importance of irrigation in Iranian agriculture”, Middle Eastern Studies, Vol 42 (No. 4), 659-673, https://doi.org/10.1080/00263200600642399.
  • Sharifinia., M.,Mozafary,Z., 2015, Physical characterize extraction and performance explanation of Bandsar for soil and water management in desert area based on remotely sensing technique, Arid region Geographic Studies, 5(16),1-14, (in Persian with English abstract), https://jargs.hsu.ac.ir/article_161357_528280d4f96f1d9f83e4ba3a06f66f89.pdf
  • Statistical Yearbook of South Khorasan Province. (2011). Tehran: Publications of Iran Statistics Center(in Persian),
  • A.,Nikgoftar.A.,2013, Analysis of the architectural structure of the exposed water reservoir from the archaeological excavations of the historical city of Belqis Esfrain in North Khorasan,4(12),9-19. . (in Persian), 20.1001.1.22516131.1392.3.12.1.0.
  • Tajbakhsh,M, Bagian.B, Mirzayi,A.,2019, Bandsars as a suitable method for flood farming, The 8th National Conference on Rain Catchment Surface Systems, university of Ferdowsi, Mashhad,1-7. (in Persian)
  • Turney, C., Canti, M., Branch, N., & Clark, P. (2014). Environmental archaeology: Theoretical and practical approaches, Routledge , https://www.routledge.com/Environmental-Archaeology-Theoretical-and-Practical-Approaches/Turney-Canti-Branch-Clark/p/book/.
  • UNESCO, W. (2015, February). Policy document for the integration of a sustainable development perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention. In Paris: General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention at Its 20th Session. file:///C:/Users/user/Downloads/news-1387-1.pdf.
  • Vayysi, H, 2021, Water crisis in the central plateau and the need to pay attention to the capital of indigenous knowledge of the aqueduct in Iran., Journal of Geography, 18(67), 104-116,(In Persian with English Abstract),  20.1001.1.27172996.1399.18.4.8.9.

  • Receive Date 15 October 2023
  • Revise Date 03 September 2024
  • Accept Date 13 November 2024