Credit: Leiden University
Posted on 09/16/2023 8:32:12 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
In ancient times, the desert in the Udhruh region in Jordan was transformed into a green oasis. An intricate network of underground water channels was part of an ancient system of water management, storing water and preventing loss through evaporation.
Archaeologist Mark Driessen has found a new way to investigate and map these channels: a remote controlled car.
In 2022 the team started to excavate a 20 meter deep water channel (qanat) shaft, only one of more than 200 shafts that are part of this specific system. Mark Driessen descended into the shaft, entering the horizontal water channels below...
The remote controlled car was outfitted with lights, a depth camera, a 360° camera and a camera for 3D photogrammetry, after which it was hoisted down the shaft. There it started its exploration of the qanat system. The operation drew a lot of attention. The story was covered by the Jordan media and the well-known Jordan TV presenter Diala Dabbas visited the project.
Now the first images and videos are coming in, hopefully leading to new insights in regards to the architecture and use of the ancient qanat system that once reshaped the desert of the Udhruh region into a green oasis.
(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...
How did the “ancients” construct 20 meter deep water channel shafts, with a horizontal water channel below?
A teaspoon full of sand at a time...
Hard work.
“Hard work.”
60 feet underground in the dark, making sure they were going in the right direction horizontally.
Squares, chalk, good jute, plumb bob, and a little C hair the the left.
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