Qanats of Bahrain
Qanats – an early engineering ingenuity – a water distribution system
This is an early engineering ingenuity which was not uncommon in this region of the world.
Very early, irrigation was through natural springs and surface wells. Then, “Qanat” systems were constructed. These are thought to be one of the most useful and ancient of man’s creations, and it is considered as a remarkable achievement of the early man since no mechanical equipment was used in their construction.
Basically, these are networks of tunnels dug underground to distribute water. It is possible to dig these tunnels either underground, or just below ground level as open ditches which are then closed with coral conglomerates and finally covered with earth. Ventilation shafts were constructed at regular intervals in order to supply air to men digging these tunnels and also to provide a passage for hauling up the excavated materials during construction. On completion, the ventilation shafts were capped with a chimney arrangement of stonework. This enabled periodic inspection, cleaning and maintenance of the “Qanats”.
