Geoarchaeological study of the Achaemenid dam of Sad-i Didegan (Fars, Iran)

A geoarchaeological study of the Achaemenid dam at Sad-i Didegan, Iran, reveals that this ancient water control system was part of a broader regional effort to manage catchment discharge for downstream agricultural lands. The dam's strategic placement and construction suggest it required significant labor over an extended period, with its scale and capacity exceeding local needs. The study combines archaeological and geoarchaeological data to demonstrate the dam's role in conjunction with other nearby dams, such as Sad-i Shahidabad, highlighting the Achaemenid Empire's sophisticated approach to water management and its economic importance for the wider Pasargadae countryside.

Schacht, T. D., Dapper, M. D., Asadi, A., Ubelmann, Y., & Boucharlat, R. (2012). Geoarchaeological study of the Achaemenid dam of Sad-i Didegan (Fars, Iran). Géomorphologie : Relief, Processus, Environnement, 18(1), 91–108. https://doi.org/10.4000/geomorphologie.9767