Paleohydraulics: Techniques for Modeling the Operation and Growth of Prehistoric Canal Systems

Summary

Past studies of the Hohokam irrigation systems have focused on the examination of small segments of individual prehistoric canals. The application of open channel equations to individual cross-sections has provided information on discharge capacity and water velocity at specific points in time and space. This study focuses on the development of techniques and approaches to modeling the operation of complete canals. Extant records of cross-sections of the Prehistoric Hohokam canals are compiled for Canal System 2. The basic hydraulic variables are calculated for all available cross-sections. A "linking analysis" is formulated to match up widely spaced cross-sections across the same canal to examine change through the longitudinal section. A regression analysis is used to model the change in hydraulic variables including total cross-sectional area, paleodischarge and velocity. The regression model is applied to all canal cross-sections. Secondary variables are generated including total canal volume in m3 and discharge in acre feet entering the canal head. Data generated from the modeling procedure are used to produce estimates of total irrigated acres and labor input required for the construction of specific canals. A diachronic analysis is conducted, with all. of the canals reconstructed for Canal System 2 being segregated by chronological period. Within each chronological period groups of contemporaneous canals are identified to characterize total system capacity and construction requirements. Changing system requirements are then examined and contrasted with previous models of demographic change, organizational requirements and sociopolitical complexity in the Salt River Valley.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Digital Archive of Huhugam Archaeology (DAHA)

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