EARLY IRRIGATION IN WEST TURKESTAN

ABSTRACT In the early period, from the fifth millennium B.C. to the fifth century A.D., irrigation techniques evolved in West Turkestan in response to problems imposed by the natural environment, and similar spatial patterns of irrigation development occurred at different times in areas with similar natural conditions. On the piedmonts, there was a progression from naturally irrigated basins to artificial basins fed by small irrigation systems, but only small scattered areas could be irrigated along the piedmonts because of a limited water supply. Along the large lowland rivers, the earliest irrigation occurred on deltas in natural basins along the lower courses of small distributaries. From these beginnings, irrigation spread gradually upstream, and ultimately large oases with extensive irrigation systems were created.

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