Empires, Local Traditions, and the Spread of Knowledge: A Case Study in Water Management in Early Islamic Palestine

Qanat technology, most likely originating on the Iranian Plateau or in the Arabian Peninsula around the 2nd millennium b.c.e., diffused in a wave-like pattern across Eurasia over various periods throughout history, reaching the southern Levant as late as the 8th century c.e. This unique water extraction technology is based on the diversion of water from underground aquifers over great distances through man-made subterranean tunnels. It is particularly efficient in alluvium soil in arid to hyper-arid regions. This study presents a unique example of a qanat-like system found in the Judean Hills of Israel, an area characterized by a different water management tradition, based on the use of natural springs and the modification of their sources through artificial tunneling. This article argues that the knowledge and use of qanat technology in the Mediterranean area of the Judean Hills bear evidence for a top-down attempt to introduce new water management technology in the Early Islamic period. The construction of this qanat-like underground system was intended to increase the resilience of the new road network of Early Islamic Palestine, particularly the road connecting Jerusalem and Ramla.