Title: Water management structures in historical settlements: towards a cross-geographical, cross-cultural categorisation

Authors: Eleni Antonelli; Katherine Liapi

Addresses: Department of Architecture, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA ' Department of Architecture, University of Patras, 26504, Panepistimioupolis, Patras, Greece

Abstract: In almost all the studied historical settlements place and water in its most general, both symbolic and practical definition, appear to be interwoven and interdependent. There are many references regarding the construction methods, shape and usage of water management structures in historical settlements. However, little research has been conducted comparing the findings of water structures to one another. In this paper a categorisation of significant existing water management structures in historical settlements is attempted on the basis of their main function and role in the water exploitation process. Collection, transportation and storage, as well as combinations of the above, have been identified as the main categories of water management structures in historical settlements. Examples of structures belonging to each category that come from various cultural backgrounds and geographical areas are discussed and a further categorisation of structures belonging to the same category, based on ground/structure relationship, is also attempted and presented in the paper.

Keywords: water collection; water transportation; water storage; water management systems; historical settlements; cross-cultural categorisation; culture.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2015.071859

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2015 Vol.14 No.3/4, pp.306 - 320

Received: 05 Aug 2014
Accepted: 22 Jan 2015

Published online: 21 Sep 2015 *

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