Geoarchaeology | IUAP Project - The Land of Sumer and Akkad

• Project
• Method
• Results
• Funding
• The team
• Publications

"Land of Sumer and Akkad" is project P5/14 of the Interuniversity Attraction Poles (Phase V) of the Federal Science Policy Office. The objective is to investigate the interaction between the palaeo-environment on the one hand, and the social, political and economic development on the other hand in Mesopotamia during the last 6,000 years. The present-day landscape is the result of a complex evolution due to the changes in the course of the rivers and the location of the coastline of the Persian Gulf. The ingenious and intensive irrigation systems humans made, and their urge to have water supply under control, played a role in this evolution. To detect the different steps of the development of the landscape, all possible sources have to be used. Therefore, this investigation requires a close collaboration with the following disciplines: Quaternary geology, Remote sensing, Philology, and History.

The Team of the RBINS – Geological Survey of Belgium investigates the evolution of the natural environment during the last 10,000 years. The research is carried out in the southern part of the Khuzestan Province, SW Iran. The study area is an extremely vast and flat plain. It is bordered by the Zagros Mountains in the north and northeast, and by the Persian Gulf in the south. The area forms the eastern extension of the Mesopotamian plain. Three major rivers, the Karun, Jarrahi and Karkheh, contributed to the geological development of the plain.

Until now, geological data about the Quaternary in the plain was virtually non-existent. The reconstructions of the coastline of the Persian Gulf and the location of the rivers published in literatures, are on the basis of historical sources and on surface observations. Therefore, they contain a lot of speculation.

Two field campaigns have been undertaken for the investigation of the geology of the last 10,000 years. Over 50 undisturbed hand borings have been carried out (by 3 women !) and few shallow temporary outcrops have been surveyed and sampled. Archaeological sites and irrigation systems have been located during the field campaigns. A ground control related to land use and characteristics of the surface sediments was done as well for further remote sensing treatment. The GPS turned out to be a very valuable instrument for the location of all observations and borings because the immense flat plain does not bear any reference point.

The collected samples have been analysed for microfossils, and the organic material and shells have been radiocarbon dated. The interpretation of the sediment succession of the boreholes together with the results of the remote sensing resulted in the reconstruction of the landscape throughout time.

Several satellite images have been processed forming now homogeneous basic maps. These maps were valuable instruments during fieldwork and were also used as base for the many figures and maps, such as e.g. the delineation of the geomorphologic units, the former courses of the rivers, the palaeogeographical reconstruction for 5 time slices, the location of the archaeological sites and former irrigation systems.

On the basis of recent satellite images, ancient aerial photographs and a 3D model, the remote sensing detected the interaction between the different rivers in the recent time as well as the relation between the rivers, the archaeological sites and the irrigation systems.

Coastal deposits have been encountered for the very first time in this region. A tidal flat environment (with mudflats, salt marshes and sabkhas) developed as from 9,000 years ago. In the course of time, the tidal environment extended via the palaeovalley of the Shatt el-Arab until about 200 km north of the present-day coastline of the Persian Gulf.

For the moment being, there are too few datations available to produce a curve of the relative sea-level rise. However, the data show that a higher sea-level stand than the present-day one, never occurred. This is in contradiction with the generally accepted view from the literature.

All data concerning the geology, geomorphology, topography and archaeology have been integrated into a GIS. This database allows to cross all domains and to detect interrelations between them.

The Jarrahi river just before it enters the flat plain

Mud cracks and salt pans on the sabkha

The pedological auger with sediments from a freshwater marsh

The mud flat at low tide

The mud flat of the Khawr Musa tidal area at low tide

Recently dug canal in the salt marsh with halophyte vegetation

The transition from mud flat to salt marsh

Village in a freshwater marsh

Flooding of a freshwater marsh in the rainy season

The freshwater marsh with extreme flooding

The gauge auger with intertidal mud at borehole 54

Gypsum cristals

Oil wells in the surroundings of Ahwaz

Tells (archaeological sites)

Ahwaz city crossed by the Karun river

The Karun river during the rainy season in Ahwaz

The anticline of Ahwaz

View of the immense vast and flat plain

Ancient canal

Sediments showing the typical thin interlayering of intertidal flat deposits

Mud cracks on the surface of the plain and remnants of the Iran-Iraq war of the 80's

The gauge auger with subtidal mud interlayered with fine sand at a depth of 6 meters

Typical view of the vast and flat plain with sparse vegetation

Outcrop in a brickyard showing freshwater deposits at the base overlain by fluvial clay

The opening up of new agricultural land with irrigation

Archaeological prospection of a tell

Dissolution of the rock in the anticline of Ahwaz

Pleistocene deposits covering the anticline of Ahwaz

The transition of salt marsh to freshwater deposits in borehole 28

Federal Science Policy Office – Research Programmes, Interuniversity Attraction Poles, Phase V, “Land of Sumer and Akkad”. For further information about the IUAP Projects, see www.belspo.be (this page will open in a new window)

• Dr Cecile Baeteman, Promotor
  email: cecile.baeteman@naturalsciences.be
• Vanessa Heyvaert, PhD student
  (Promotors: Dr Ph. Claeys and Dr C. Baeteman),
  email: vanessa.heyvaert@naturalsciences.be
• Laetitia Dupin, Contract geologist
  email: laetitia.dupin@naturalsciences.be

• Dr Roland Gehrels and Dr Charu Sharma, Department of Geography, University of Plymouth, UK: foraminifera analyses
• Dr Sue Dawson, University of St Andrews, UK: diatom analyses
• Ir Mark Van Strydonck, KIKIRPA, Brussel: radiocarbon dating
• Dr Florias Mees, Universiteit Gent, Laboratorium voor Mineralogie, Petrologie en Micropedologie: petrographic analyses
• Dr N. Fagel, Université de Liège: X-ray diffraction
• Dr Henk Weerts, Netherlands Institute for Applied Geosciences TNO, Utrecht, The Netherlands: fluvial sedimentology

01/01/2002 to 31/12/2006

Heyvaert, V., Baeteman, C., (in press). Holocene sedimentary evolution and palaeocoastlines of the Lower Khuzestan plain (SW Iran). Marine Geology.

Baeteman, C., Dupin, L., Heyvaert, V., 2004/2005. Geo-environmental Investigation. In: H. Gasche (Ed.): The Persian Gulf Shorelines and the Karkheh, Karun, and Jarrahi Rivers: A Geo-Archaeological Approach. Akkadica 125/126, 155-215, 1-12.

Ooghe, B., Heyvaert, V.M.A., 2006. The value of geological and historical data integration in recreating landscape history in Lower Mesopotamia: the post-10th century A.D. Lower Khuzestan plain, SW Iran. Geoarchaeology 2006 Open Science Meeting, University of Exeter, 10-13 September 2006.

Dupin, L., 2006. Changing river courses, Human adaptation and interaction in Lower Khuzestan (SW Iran). Late Holocene Landscape reconstruction based on Remote Sensing. Geoarchaeology, Exeter, UK, 10-13 September 2006.

Heyvaert, V., Ooghe, B., Baeteman, C., Weerts, H.J.T., 2006. The impact of channel shifting of the river Karkheh on the late Holocene evolution of the northern part of the Lower Khuzestan plain (Persian Gulf, SW Iran): integrating geological and historical data. Program and Abstracts, IGCP 495 UK Working Group Conference and Fieldtrip; Holocene land-ocean interactions: driving mechanisms ans coastal responses, 9-12 July 2006, Ashford, UK.

Dupin, L., 2006. Landscape evolution of the Lower Khuzestan plain (SW Iran) during the late Holocene revealed by Remote Sensing. BGRG International Conference, Loughborough University, UK, 28-30 June 2006.

Heyvaert, V.M.A., Baeteman, C., 2006. The Holocene sedimentary record of the Lower Khuzestan plain (SW Iran): A Footprint of Palaeogeographical Changes. Program and Abstracts. Broadening Horizons, Multidisciplinary approaches to the study of past landscapes, Gent, Belgium, 27-28 February 2006.

Dupin, L., 2006. Natural and Human-induced processes: Impact on the Landscape of the Lower Khuzestan plain (SW Iran) revealed by Remote Sensing. Broadening Horizons, Multidisciplinary approaches to the study of past landscapes, Gent, Belgium, 27-28 February 2006.

Heyvaert, V.M.A., Baeteman, C., 2005. The impact of channel diversion on the Holocene infill of a tidal embayment in the southern part of the Lower Khuzestan Plain (Persian Gulf, SW Iran). Program and Abstracts, 2nd International Geoscience Programme Project 495 “Quaternary Land-Ocean Interactions: Driving Mechanisms and Coastal Responses“, Banten, Java, Indonesia, 25 September – 1 October 2005.

Baeteman, C. Heyvaert, V.M.A., 2005. A tentative palaeogeographical reconstruction of the coastal plain of Lower Khuzestan during the Holocene (Persian Gulf, SW Iran). Program and Abstracts, 2nd International Geoscience Programme Project 495 “Quaternary Land-Ocean Interactions: Driving Mechanisms and Coastal Responses”, Banten, Java, Indonesia, 25 September – 1 October 2005.

Heyvaert, V.M.A., Baeteman, C., Dawson, S., 2005. The shift from estuarine infill to delta progradation. The first results from the Holocene sedimentary record of the Lower Khuzestan Plain, SW Iran. Late Quaternary Coastal Changes: Sea Level, Sedimentary Forcing and Anthropogenic Impacts. INQUA & IGCP-495 joint meeting. Dunkerque, France, 28 June – 2 July 2005.

Heyvaert, V.M.A., Baeteman, C., 2004. Fluvial dominance in a late Holocene prograding carbonate coastal area: the Northern Persian Gulf, Khuzestan Province, Iran. Program and Abstracts, International Geoscience Programme Project 495 “Quaternary Land-Ocean Interactions: Driving Mechanisms and Coastal Responses“, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA, 14-17 October 2004.

Dupin, L., 2004. Satellite imagery technique for an interpretation of the fluvial-marine geomorphology in SW Iran. IGCP 495 Inaugural Meeting, Quaternary Land-Ocean Interactions: Driving Mechanisms and Coastal Responses, Maine, USA, 14-17 October 2004.

Heyvaert, V.M.A., Baeteman, C., 2004. Flashfloods filling marshes in a late Holocene prograding coastal area: the Northern Persian Gulf, Khuzestan Province, Iran. Program and Abstracts, The Quaternary Research Association Third International Postgraduate Symposium, Brussels, Belgium, 14-17 September 2004.

Dupin, L., 2004. Investigation of changes in the fluvial and coastal environments in SW Iran using remote sensing. The 3th QRA Post-Graduate International Symposium, Brussels, Belgium, 14-17 September 2004.

Heyvaert, V.M.A., Baeteman, C., Gasche, H., 2003. The reconstruction of History and Environment of the Mesopotamian plain during the middle and late Holocene. Program and Abstracts. Belgian Association for Quaternary Studies (BELQUA), First Workshop, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium, 4 December 2003.

Heyvaert, V.M.A., Baeteman, C., 2003. Geo-environmental mapping of the Mesopotamian Plain during the middle and late Holocene, Iraq. Program and Abstracts, The Quaternary Research Association Second International Postgraduate Symposium, London, UK, 10-12 September 2003.

Heyvaert, V.M.A., Baeteman, C., Gasche H., 2003. The reconstruction of History and Environment of the Mesopotamian Plain during the middle and late Holocene, Iraq. Program with Abstracts, XVI INQUA Congress, Reno, Nevada, 23-30 July 2003.