Aflāj discoveries in al‑ʿAyn — exploring and documenting the network of shafts and tunnels recently revealed below the streets of the modern city

Over the past four years, around 60 ancient aflaj have been recorded at more than 150 sites in Al Ain, mainly around Hili, Qattara and Jimi, and in the central district near Al Ain Oasis. Most were found during infrastructure works. The aflaj vary in depth and construction, from surface channels to tunnels up to 15 m underground. The paper highlights two sites (Falaj al-Mazmi and Hayy al-Murabba) to show excavation and building techniques, and outlines a chronology linking the aflaj to water sources, agriculture, and the development of Al Ain’s oasis landscape.

Peter Sheehan, Mohammed Khalifa, Malak Al Ajou, Nour Al Marzooqi, Jaber Al Merri & Timothy Power

2024