Researchers have recently made a remarkable discovery along the River Nile in Egypt and Sudan.
A report shared by Phys.org tells us that the experts have uncovered a vast network of stone walls that shed light on an exceptionally long-lived form of hydraulic engineering in the Nile Valley and reveal connections between ancient Nubia and Egypt.
Detecting Ancient Engineering With the Latest Tech
The team employed a range of advanced technologies to locate these ancient structures. They utilized satellite imagery, drone surveys, ground surveys, historical sources such as 19th-century travelers' diaries, a 200-year-old map, and archives of aerial photographs.
Remarkably, the Royal Air Force took some of the aerial photographs as far back as 1934.
Marvels of Hydraulic Engineering
Of the nearly 1,300 river groins, as these stone walls are known, many are now submerged beneath the Aswan High Dam reservoir. However, accounts from the 19th century and archival photographs provided valuable information on their original locations.
It was discovered that a significant number of these groins are situated in the desert, within ancient, dry Nile channels. The researchers explain that these channels were once active during the Holocene period but eventually dried out due to climate change and decreased river flows.
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Radiocarbon and luminescence dating techniques were employed to determine the age of the walls in the ancient channels.
Astonishingly, some of these walls were over 3,000 years old. They were built to trap fertile silts carried by the Nile's annual inundation, creating reclaimed land on which crops could be grown without artificial irrigation.
The study, published in Geoarchaeology, reveals that this form of landscape engineering was initially carried out by the indigenous Nubian communities and later adopted by the ancient Egyptian state.
Even more impressive were the larger stone walls identified within the Nile itself. These monumental structures, measuring up to five meters thick and 200 meters long, acted as barrages.
They directed the river flow and aided navigation through treacherous Nile rapids, allowing for the movement of resources, armies, people, and ideas between ancient Egypt and Nubia.
Expert Insights
Dr. Matthew Dalton of The University of Western Australia, the study's lead author, highlights this hydraulic technology's longevity and significance. He explains that river groins continued to be constructed until as recently as the 1970s, and some of the reclaimed land is still cultivated today.
This ancient engineering marvel played a crucial role in enabling communities to thrive and grow food in the challenging landscapes of Nubia for over 3,000 years.
Dr. Neal Spencer, deputy director at the Fitzwilliam Museum (University of Cambridge) and Director of the Amara West Research Project, emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary research in uncovering these enduring traditions and technologies.
He notes that this study balances the inherently biased information found in ancient Egyptian textual records by providing valuable insights into the practices of Nubia.
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