sustainability of ancient water supply facilities in jerusalem在耶路撒冷古供水设施的可持续性.pdf

Sustainability 2009, 1, 1106-1119; doi:10.3390/su1041106 OPEN ACCESS sustainability ISSN 2071-1050 /journal/sustainability Article Sustainability of Ancient Water Supply Facilities in Jerusalem Jamal M. Barghouth 1 and Rashed M.Y. Al-Sa`ed 2,* 1 Palestinian Institution for Cultural Landscape Studies, P.O. Box 54816 East Jerusalem, West Bank, Palestine; E-Mail: almashhad.picls@ 2 Institute of Environmental and Water Studies, Birzeit University, P.O. Box 14, Birzeit, West Bank, Palestine * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: rsaed@; Tel.: +972-2-298-2070; Fax: +972-2-298-2 120. Received: 13 October 2009 / Accepted: 4 November 2009 / Published: 25 November 2009 Abstract: This paper presents an overview on the sustainability of ancient water supply systems in Jerusalem from the Chalcolithic period (4500–3200 B.C.) until the present time. Archaeological evidences and landscape settings were applied utilizing all available and accessible literature relevant to ancient water resources management in Jerusalem. Irrigated agriculture was practiced for many centuries in this region, hence sustainable water supply facilities were erected, including well developed aqueducts, water harvesting pools and irrigation channels for water storage and landscaping purposes. To cope with seismic events, soil subsidence and water leakage, ancient water engineers and architects applied innovative construction methods for the ere