Author: Dr. Henning Fahlbusch, Germany

Year: 2001, ISBN: 81-85068-76-3

Type: Special Publication, Format: Print

On the eve of its 52nd Annual International Executive Council Meeting and 1st Asian Regional Conference in Seoul, Korea ICID has brought out a History publication ?Historical Dams? edited by Dr. Henning Fahlbusch, Chairman, ICID Working Group on History of Irrigation, Drainage and Flood Control (WG-HIST) comprising 19 chapters contributed by eminent international experts and historians. This publication presents not only the history of dams, historical dams, and the history of development of technologies for various types of dams, but it also highlights the skills and techniques deployed by the builders since olden times.?The description of the oldest large earthen dam - ?Sadd-el-Kafara? built around 2700 BC is a poem of spirited imagination translated into undaunting action. An unprecedented flood may have washed away the structure, but in turn the catastrophe generated a good learning experience for future. Storage created in Fayum Depression at the time of Middle Empire (2122-1786 BC) in Egypt; water management in antiquity in the Urartu Kingdom (850-600 BC); development of ?Qanats?, a means to use groundwater in Iran; dam-building activity in Spain, Central Europe, and by Nabataeans, old Sudanese Kush Empire, and the old Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; development of the Mining Ponds in Upper Harz in Germany; and construction of various types of dams during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, and in Spain and Danube area of Europe present an interesting historical narration.?History is not a mere transition to posterity, it is a great teacher to those who strive to transform the society for the better. The efforts of past builders and engineers to develop innovative, safe and sound engineering designs are a fine exhibition of their irrepressible zeal to favourably manoeuver the vagaries of Nature for overall socio-economic development. This publication presents a fascinating insight into the earlier techniques of dam construction - not so refined from present standards, but wellnigh innovative. Covering the history of dam building in several of present day countries, this book is a useful and authentic compilation of hydraulic engineering feats for storage of water through structures of various types and sizes.