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Document Details : Title: The Origin of the Qanāt System in the al-'Ulā Area and the Ǧabal 'lkma Inscriptions Author(s): SCAGLIARINI, Fiorella Journal: ARAM Periodical Volume: 14 Date: 2001-2002 Pages: 569-579 DOI: 10.2143/ARAM.14.0.504518 Abstract : The qanāts, that is subterranean tunnel-wells, are part of a widespread irrigation system of the Ancient Near East. It is generally held that the Achaemenids introduced qanāts in Arabia during the 5th century BC. A group of late Dadanitic inscriptions, discovered in 1966 in the al-'Ulā area, has been interpreted as proof of an irrigation system through a qanāt-network. These texts are placed in front of the ruins of ancient Dadan. The author reinvestigates this material and has to conclude that there is unfortunately no concrete archaeological evidence allowing us to date the use of the qanāts technique in the al-'Ulā area, and that none of the inscriptions discovered at al-'Ulā throw any light on the origin of the subterranean tunnel-wells. |
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