The Sumerian World (Routledge Worlds)

Tony ]. Wilkinson

Figure 2.4a

Layout of an ancient canal system

that distributed water from a levee

crest channel in the northern

alluvium (Widell 2008)

Sites as recognised

on soil maps Canals

1 km

Figure 2.4b
Diagrammatic layout
showing the possible
distribution of lateral canals
and their associated irrigated
land (left) versus a single
longitudinal canal (right)

MAIN CHANNEL

Fields

Incised secondary

channel

Levee 5km

0

Canals

Longitudinal

canal

SECONDARY

CHANNEL

0