Land selection for irrigation in Al-Andalus, Spain (8th century a.d.)

Bibliographic Data

ID21050073
AuthorsArnald Puy (0000-0001-9469-2156, Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume39
Issue1
Pages84-100
Publication date2014-02-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Field Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0093-4690 • E-ISSN: 2042-4582
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1179/0093469013z.00000000072
OpenAlexW2060576509
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited32

The Andalusi hydraulic systems of the Iberian Peninsula, constructed by Arabs and Berbers between a.d. 711 and the feudal conquest of Al-Andalus (11–15th centuries a.d.), are today among the most productive agricultural areas in Europe. Their current extension is the result of several enlargements made to the original Andalusi design, irrigating lands initially rejected by the first builders. Understanding the reasons that led Arabs and Berbers to select or reject lands for irrigation is essential for documenting the formation processes of these agricultural areas. Here the topic is approached using the hydraulic system of Ricote (Murcia, Spain) as a case study. Through hydraulic archaeology, excavations, and GIS, it is shown that deep, flat, well-insolated (i.e., exposed to sunlight), slightly saline, colluvial soils were preferred for irrigation while slopes, shady areas, floodplains, and highly saline soils were rejected. Optimizing the water supply for irrigation was not a top priority. The results highlight the need to consider topographical features when studying how past agrarian societies introduced irrigated agriculture to new environments

Agrarian society · Agriculture · Ancient history · Archaeology · Cartography · Colluvium · CONQUEST · Excavation · Floodplain · Geography · Irrigation · Peninsula · Soil water · Water resource management · Archaeological and Historical Studies · Ecology · Environmental Science · Geology · Historical Studies of Medieval Iberia · History · Medieval Architecture and Archaeology

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