This doctoral project aims to analyze water management and historical water management strategies in semi-arid to arid regions, with a special focus on Spain and Jordan.

Research

Irrigation channels in the Vega of Vélez Blanco, SE Spain | Photo: S. Isselhorst/ © S. Isselhorst Irrigation channel in the hinterland of Petra, Jordan | Photo: S. Isselhorst/ © S. Isselhorst Reservoir for the storage of irrigation water in the Vega of Vélez Blanco | Photo: S. Isselhorst/ © S. Isselhorst Storage facility for irrigation water in the hinterland of Petra | Photo: S. Isselhorst/ © S. Isselhorst

For this purpose, interactions of natural-environmental and socio-economic factors are comprehensively analyzed. This is undertaken to gain knowledge of the local historical development as well as technical and administrative water management strategies at the Vega of Vélez Blanco (SE Spain) and the rural hinterland Petra (S Jordan).

Main research questions are:

  • Which factors influence the stability of local water management within Mediterranean regions?
  • Under which climate conditions is irrigation in (semi-)arid environments profitable – and over which periods of time did it function?
  • Is the installation and operation of irrigation structures only profitable in areas with superregional importance?

 

This doctoral thesis is being written within the program “Landscape Archaeology and Architecture” (LAA) of the Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies (BerGSAS).