Irrigation in Early States
the twelfth annual university of chicago oriental institute seminar
March 3–4, 2016
IRRIGATION IN The Oriental Institute, EARLY STATES University of Chicago Organized by Stephanie Rost, NEW DIRECTIONS Postdoctoral Fellow
THURSDAY, MARCH 3
introduction 9:00–9:30 am Opening remarks by Gil Stein, Director of the Oriental Institute Introduction by Stephanie Rost
1 features of irrigation 9:30–10:50 am
Maurits Ertsen “A Leak on the Irrigation System May Not Be Seen: How to Connect Daily Human Agency and Long-Term Effects
in Irrigation” Watercolor rendering of Vernon Scarborough “Crosscultural Archaeology and the irrigation along the Euphrates River, by Heidrun Westerboer. Role of the Seasonally Wet Tropics in Informing the Present” any early civilizations were located in river valleys, Martin Sterry “Foggaras and the Garamantes: Irrigation and the connection between irrigation and the Systems in the Central Sahara” development of social and political complexity has BREAK (10:50–11:15 AM) Mlong been of interest to anthropologists. Early approaches argued that the need for centralized control over large- 2 empirical investigation of irrigation 11:15 am–1:00 pm scale irrigation systems fostered state formation, but later Jason Ur “Remote Sensing of Ancient Canal and studies demonstrated that centralized control of irrigation Irrigation Systems” is a choice rather than a necessity. Stephanie Rost “Textual Evidence from Late Third- In recent decades scholarly interest in the cross-cultural Millennium Mesopotamia on Irrigation study of ancient irrigation has diminished, and many and Watercourse Management” important questions remain unanswered. It is the purpose of this conference to re-examine the role of irrigation in Marco Madella “Water Management in the Indus early states by bringing together experts in the field of Valley: Rain, Rivers, and People” irrigation studies from a wide regional and temporal scope. Kyle Woodson “The Archaeological Excavation and It is hoped that an interdisciplinary dialogue will advance Explanation of Ancient Canal Irrigation both methodological and theoretical approaches for a more Systems in Southern Arizona, USA” nuanced understanding of the function of irrigation in early LUNCH (1:00–2:30 PM) states. 3 economic function of irrigation 2:30–3:50 pm FRIDAY, MARCH 4 Robert C. Hunt “Irrigated Food Production and Complexity: The Case of Hohokam, 5 cosmological & cognitive dimensions a Neolithic Society in the American of irrigation 9:00–11:00 am Southwest” Emily Hammer “The Role and Characteristics of Zhichung Jing “Water Management and Urban Irrigation in the Kingdom of Urartu” Organization of Late Shang Dynasty” Hervé Reculeau “Opener of Canals, Provider of Christopher Woods “Where the Rivers Meet Language: Abundance and Plenty: Royal Investment Topographical Deixis in Sumerian” in Large-Scale Irrigation in Second- Miriam T. Stark “Where the Rivers Flow: Water Millennium BC Upper Mesopotamia” Management and Early States in the BREAK (3:50–4:15 pm) Lower Mekong Basin”
BREAK (11:00–11:30 am) 4 socio-political function of irrigation 4:15–5:35 pm responses 11:30 am–12:30 pm Michael Harrower “Political Rhetoric, Social Logic, and Spatial Heterogeneity of Water: An McGuire Gibson | carrie Hritz | sylvia Rodriguez Interpretation of Irrigation and Ancient State Formation in Southwest Arabia concluding session 12:30–1:30 pm (Yemen)” Kathleen D. Morrison “You Eat What You Are: Ideologies of Food, Water, and Irrigation in Middle Period Southern India” OPEN TO THE PUBLIC For complete program details, contact Stephanie Rost: uan oreno arcía J C. M G “Irrigation/Irrigations in Pharaonic [email protected] Egypt: The Interplay between Seminar website: oi.uchicago.edu/research/symposia/2016.html Institutions and Particulars” The Oriental Institute is handicapped accessible. Persons with disabilities who need assistance should contact Stephanie Rost at (773) 702-7497. reception 5:35–6:30 pm
the oriental institute • 1155 east 58th street • chicago il 60637