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Persian Qanat
Ancient underground irrigation system of Persia and Central Asia, linking shafts to underground channels that carry mountain aquifer water to arid pl…
Timeline
- 1031–1035Yazd · Iranian PlateauYazd and surrounding oases continued to maintain ancient qanat networks during the Seljuk period, with moghani (moghani) canal diggers passing down surveying and underground-channel construction techniques to ensure irrigation of cotton fields and orchards.
- 1036–1040Merv · KhwarazmKhwarazm cities such as Merv and Nishapur relied on irrigation systems combining qanats with surface canals, supporting the populations and agricultural output of Silk Road trading cities, with water-rights allocation incorporated into local administrative practice.
Sources
- The Origin and Spread of the Qanat — Paul Ward English (1968)
- Qanat Knowledge and Construction: A UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Study — UNESCO (2016) https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/traditional-knowledge-and-skills-of-qanat-for-sustainable-water-supply-01207