Water and territorial empires
The ability of the ancient territorial empires to control water management strategies has been proposed but not yet fully explored. Given that most of the evidence is derived from historical information, or from isolated, specific archaeological studies, a detailed map of ancient irrigation in northern Mesopotamia was needed. The present interdisciplinary study used techniques of remote sensing and GIS to generate this map. CORONA images (1960-1972) were used to identify and record known and new water management features, showing the landscape before recent agricultural and urban intensification removed archaeological remains. The results of the image interpretation were validated through DEM analysis; low resolution SRTM and ASTER DEMs were used, as well as a high resolution CORONA DEM, generated through applying photogrammetry techniques to CORONA stereopairs. A sample of the results was also investigated in the field in July 2010. Using multiple techniques to locate and validate data, the large area of northern Mesopotamia could be mapped relatively quickly and inexpensively. The results of the remote sensing analysis showed that water management developed throughout northern Mesopotamia from the Neo-Assyrian
Rayne, Louise Elizabeth
Water and territorial empires. The ability of the ancient territorial empires to control water management strategies has been proposed but not yet fully explored. Given that most of the evidence is derived from historical information, or from isolated, specific archaeological studies, a detailed map of ancient irrigation in northern Mesopotamia was needed. The present interdisciplinary study used techniques of remote sensing and GIS to generate this map. CORONA images (1960-1972) were used to identify and record known and new water management features, showing the landscape before recent agricultural and urban intensification removed archaeological remains. The results of the image interpretation were validated through DEM analysis; low resolution SRTM and ASTER DEMs were used, as well as a high resolution CORONA DEM, generated through applying photogrammetry techniques to CORONA stereopairs. A sample of the results was also investigated in the field in July 2010. Using multiple techniques to locate and validate data, the large area of northern Mesopotamia could be mapped relatively quickly and inexpensively. The results of the remote sensing analysis showed that water management developed throughout northern Mesopotamia from the Neo-Assyrian
water territorial empire ability ancient territorial empire control water_management strategy propose yet_fully explore given evidence derive historical information isolate specific archaeological_study detailed map ancient irrigation northern_mesopotamia need present interdisciplinary_study use technique remote_sense gis generate map corona image use_identify record know new water_management feature show landscape recent agricultural urban intensification remove archaeological_remains image interpretation validate dem analysis low resolution use well high_resolution corona dem generate apply technique corona sample also_investigate field using multiple technique locate validate data large area northern mesopotamia could map relatively quickly remote_sense analysis_show water_management develop throughout northern_mesopotamia neo_assyrian