Ancient water systems

Armenia: Ancient water management systems in Western Armenia include complex aqueducts, wells, and underground canals. The Kingdom of Van, an ancient civilization that ruled the Armenian Highlands during the Iron Age, built complex systems for collecting, storing, and distributing water. The ancient city of Erebuni, located near modern-day Yerevan, is an example of a water management system in the Kingdom of Van.

France: In the region that is now France, pre-Roman Celtic tribes built water management systems, such as wells and simple canals, to supply their settlements with water. Although these systems were less complex than Roman aqueducts, they still served to manage water resources. Some examples of pre-Roman water systems can be found in Iron Age hillforts, known as “oppida” in Gaul (modern France).

Spain: On the Iberian Peninsula, the ancient Iberian civilization (which predated the Roman occupation) developed its own methods of water resource management. The Iberians built wells, reservoirs, and simple canals to supply their settlements with water. Some examples of pre-Roman Iberian water systems can be found at the archaeological excavations of La Bastida (Murcia, Spain), which date back to the Bronze Age.

Mexico: The ancient Aztecs and other Mesoamerican civilizations built advanced water management systems for their cities. One of the most famous examples is the ancient city of Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City), built on an island in the middle of a lake. The Aztecs built a series of canals and aqueducts to manage water supply and combat flooding.

Sources:

1. “Water for the Future: The Role of Water in Ancient Civilizations” by P. L. Burroughs (2001). UNESCO Courier. Link
2. “Qanats, An Ancient Water Supply System” by M. R. Goblot (1979). UNESCO. Link
3. “Roman Aqueducts” by R. H. Rodgers (2001). The Oxford Handbook of Engineering and Technology in the Classical World. Link

Image source: ANCIENT ARMENOIDS aka THE LOST TRIBES