BEIRUT — A vast network of ridges and canals stretching across southern Iraq’s floodplains has long intrigued historians, believed to have been the remnants of an immense agricultural system constructed through the forced labor of enslaved individuals. Recently, a group of international archaeologists has uncovered new evidence supporting this theory.
Through meticulous research and testing, the team aimed to ascertain the construction dates of these sprawling earthen structures. Their findings indicated that these edifices were established over several centuries, commencing around the period of the notable slave rebellion in the 9th century A.D. These significant discoveries were unveiled in a study published in the journal Antiquity this Monday.
The enslaved people of that time, referred to as the “Zanj,” were associated with the medieval Arabic name for the East African Swahili coast. There is, however, ongoing debate regarding the exact African regions from which most originated. These individuals initiated a significant revolt in 869 A.D. under the Abbasid Caliphate, widely recognized today as the “Zanj rebellion.” This rebellion persisted for over ten years until the Abbasid forces managed to reclaim control by 883 A.D.
In the present day, many descendants of these enslaved peoples have established their lives in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Despite their integral role in modern Iraqi society, their historical contributions have remained under-documented and largely unrecorded, creating a gap in comprehensive historical narratives.
Jaafar Jotheri, an archaeology professor at Iraq’s University of Al-Qadisiyah, emphasized the importance of this research, highlighting the need to preserve these monumental structures for future study and recognition as part of minority heritage. This study was a collaborative endeavor with participation from Durham and Newcastle universities in the UK, Radboud University in the Netherlands, and Iraq’s University of Basra.
The research team extensively analyzed both recent satellite images and archival photographs from the 1960s, which depicted over 7,000 vast manmade ridges within the Sha?? al-Arab floodplain. The scale and scope of these constructions denote a substantial investment of human resource and labor on an extraordinary scale. Radiocarbon dating alongside optically stimulated luminescence dating were utilized on various sites to determine the ages of these structures.
Analyzing four prominent ridge crests, the researchers deduced their creation span from the late ninth to the mid-13th century A.D., corresponding to the time when slave labor was predominant. This observation suggests the persistence of forced labor well beyond the famous uprising. The findings articulated that these features were operational for a vastly longer duration than previously presumed, underscoring their significance as crucial segments of Iraq’s geographic heritage.
This discovery emerges during a period marked by a burgeoning interest and revival in Iraqi archaeology. Often celebrated as the “cradle of civilization,” Iraq’s archaeological pursuits had been considerably hindered by prolonged periods of conflict, which disrupted excavations and led to widespread artifact theft. Recent years, however, have seen a resurgence in archaeological activities, bringing with them efforts to repatriate thousands of looted artifacts, rekindling interest and exploration within the region.