Fig.1 Qanats of Bam (Source: S.H. Rashedi, 2014. Nomination File, © S.H. Rashedi, whc.unesco.org/en/documents/141554).
Qanats: Ancient Innovations Nurturing Sustainable Futures in Water Management

Authors

  • Vladimiro Andrea Boselli Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Istituto per il Rilevamento Elettromagnetico dell’Ambiente (CNR-IREA)
  • Massimiliano Borroni Università Ca’ Foscari
  • Jalal Kassout Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)
  • Mhammad Houssni University of Abdelmalek Essaâdi
  • Athmane Kettouch Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
  • Simone Cristoforetti Università Ca’ Foscari

Downloads

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2025.1.05

Keywords:

qanats, oases, groundwater, ancient hydro-technologies (AHTs)

Abstract

The qanat, a timeless testament to human ingenuity, emerged on the arid Persian Plateau around three millennia ago as a sustainable solution to water scarcity. This technique channels water from aquifers using gravity through gently sloping sub-horizontal tunnels, avoiding over-extraction and ensuring a delicate balance between human needs and environmental preservation. By naturally regulating water flow according to aquifer levels, qanats prevent excessive depletion, serving as a model for sustainable water resource management. This study explores the fascinating journey of qanats, their geographical spread, historical evolution and enduring relevance. We highlight their adaptability to diverse environments, their role in fostering cultural continuity and their potential to address contemporary water challenges. By revisiting this ancient marvel, we uncover valuable lessons for contemporary water management systems worldwide.

How to Cite

Boselli, V. A., Borroni, M., Kassout, J., Houssni, M., Kettouch, A., & Cristoforetti, S. (2025). Qanats: Ancient Innovations Nurturing Sustainable Futures in Water Management. Blue Papers, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2025.1.05

Published

2025-03-23

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025): Water & Heritage for Sustainable Development

Section

challenges, concepts and new approaches

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Vladimiro Andrea Boselli, Massimiliano Borroni, Jalal Kassout, Mhammad Houssni, Athmane Kettouch, Simone Cristoforetti

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Vladimiro Andrea Boselli, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Istituto per il Rilevamento Elettromagnetico dell’Ambiente (CNR-IREA)

He is a trained hydraulic engineer and hydrologist with a strong background in oasology, he is a researcher at the CNR. With over 10 years of experience, his work focuses on ancient hydro-technologies and the integration of ancient knowledge into modern resource and agricultural management.

Massimiliano Borroni, Università Ca’ Foscari

He is researcher at Ca’ Foscari and professor of “Environments and Societies of The Islamicate Countries” in the Digital Humanities master’s program, he has focused on epistemological themes related to water and the water cycle in the Islamic world since the start of his career. His research quickly earned him recognition as the leading expert on the epistemology of the water cycle in Al-Biruni’s scientific thought.

Jalal Kassout, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)

During his doctorate, he studied the olive tree’s evolutionary history and functional ecology. An expert in Ecology, Conservation Biology, Functional Ecology, Biostatistics, and Plant Ecology at INRA Marrakech, he is emerging as a leading authority on the functional ecology of olive, argan, and carob trees. His research also focuses on irrigation and traditional agriculture.

Mhammad Houssni, University of Abdelmalek Essaâdi

He is a researcher at Abdelmalek Essaâdi University with a PhD in Ecology, Biodiversity, and Ethnobotany. His doctoral research explored the agrodiversity of oasis agroecosystems, emphasizing the enhancement of local products and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage.

Athmane Kettouch, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

He holds a PhD in Hydrogeology and Geo-Environment, he is expert in ground water quality modeling, remote sensing and dry land areas. He is currently a researcher at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) with the The International Water Research Institute (IWRI) working specifically on the study of khettaras.

Simone Cristoforetti, Università Ca’ Foscari

Professor at Ca’ Foscari, expert in Iran, teaches Persian history and culture in the degree courses of Languages ​​and Civilizations of Asia and Mediterranean Africa. Among his vast and ramified research activities, he leads a research group on Networks of Science and Waters: the diffusion of traditional irrigation techniques in the Islamic world.

References

Ashraf, Muhammad Adnan, Abdul Majeed and Mazhar Saeed. 2016. “Impact Evaluation of a Karez Irrigation Scheme in Balochistan-Pakistan: Issues and Options.” Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 53, no. 3: 661–71. https://dx.doi.org/10.21162/PAKJAS/16.3527.

Barontini, Stefano, et al. 2018. “Sul significato culturale delle tecniche irrigue tradizionali in scarsità idrica.” Officina, no. 22: 10–15.

Barontini, Stefano, et al. 2017. “Bridging Mediterranean Cultures in the International Year of Soils 2015: A Documentary Exhibition on Irrigation Techniques in Water Scarcity Conditions.” Hydrology Research 48, no. 3: 789–801. https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2017.113.

Chunliang, Cui, Shalamu Abudu, Zhuping Sheng and Donghai Guan. 2014. “The Karez System in China’s Xinjiang Region.” Middle East Institute. https://www.mei.edu/publications/karez-system-chinas-xinjiang-region.

English, Paul Ward. 1968. “The Origin and Spread of Qanats in the Old World.” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 112, no. 3: 170–81. http://www.jstor.org/stable/986162.

Govindan Kutty, Valliyil. 2020. “A Historic Appraisal of Deccani Karez – Challenges and Prospects.” Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 8, no. 1: 660–79.

Himat, Abobakar, and Selim Dogan. 2019. “Ancient Karez System in Afghanistan: The Perspective of Construction and Maintenance.” Academic Platform Journal of Engineering and Smart Systems 7, no. 3: 347–54.

Kayser, Pit, and Waringo, Guy. 2000. “Die unterirdische Wasserleitung der Raschpëtzer: Ein Monument antiker Ingenieurbaukunst aus Luxemburg.” Trierer Zeitschrift-Archäologie und Kunst des Trierer Landes und seiner Nachbargebiete, 337–51.

Khan, Muhammad Fazle Karim, and Nawaz, Muhammad. 1995. “Karez Irrigation in Pakistan.” GeoJournal 37, no. 1: 91–100.

Lightfoot, Dale. 2000. “The Origin and Diffusion of Qanats in Arabia: New Evidence from the Northern and Southern Peninsula.” The Geographical Journal 16, no. 3: 215–26. https://www.jstor.org/stable/823073.

Lightfoot, Dale. 2024. Qanat: Stream of Wells. I. B. Tauris. https://doi.org/10.5040/9780755650828.

Madani, Said. 2022. “An Ingenious Heritage System for Collecting and Distributing Flood Water in the M’zab Valley of Algeria.” Blue Papers 1, no. 2: 100–110. https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2022.2.10.

Malik, Muhammad Akhtar, Abida Dost, Ehsan Muhsan, Rabia Akhtar, Jalil ur Rehman and Zaira Manzoor. 2021. “Water Resources of Balochistan, Pakistan—A Review.” Arabian Journal of Geosciences 14, no. 289. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-06502-y.

Martínez-Medina, Ramón, Encarnación Gil-Meseguer and José Maria Gómez-Espín. 2018. “Research on Qanats in Spain.” Water History 10: 339–55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12685-018-0224-7.

Massoud, Ghaderian. 2022. “Collaboration Between Nature and Humans in the Desert: The Qanat System in Iran.” Blue Papers 1, no 1: 138–49. https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2022.1.14.

Messous, Ouafa. 2024. “Learning from the Hydraulic Heritage of Figuig, Morocco.” Blue Papers 3, no. 2: 176–85. https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2024.2.14.

Remington, Grace. 2018. “The Origin and Diffusion of Qanats in Arabia: New Evidence from the Northern and Southern Peninsula.” Journal of Arid Environments 151: 134–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2017.10.003.

Strava, Cristiana. 2024. “Sustainable Water Management and Indigenous Socio-Technical Heritage in Marrakech, Morocco.” Blue Papers 3, no 1: 214–23. https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2024.1.17.

Taghavi-Jeloudar, Mohsen, Mooyoung Han, Mohammad Davoudi and Mikyeong Kim, 2013. “Review of Ancient Wisdom of Qanat, and Suggestions for Future Water Management.” Environmental Engineering Research 18, no. 2: 57–63.

Weingartner, Herbert. 2007. “Water Supply by Qanats: A Contribution to Water Shortage in Mediterranean Areas?” Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, Kos Island, Greece, 5–7 September 2007.