Objective The main target of the research proposal is to study the historical transformation of Mediterranean drylands into fertile and productive irrigated fields. The construction and maintenance of irrigated fields has been one of the most successful strategies adopted by past societies to cope with the uncertainty of the Mediterranean weather. Many irrigated fields were constructed in the past and are still in use today, being among the most productive agrarian areas in Europe. Irrigated fields have also been considered as a conspicuous feature of Mediterranean arid and semi-arid environments.Several researchers from the natural and the social sciences have studied these agrarian areas. However, most of the research carried out to date has followed a unidisciplinary approach to study fully established irrigated fields. No attention has been paid to their initial formation process, including the nature of the pre-existing dry soils before construction of the fields, the techniques involved in their construction or the edaphological changes brought about by irrigation.My research will tackle these issues through the study of four still-operative, sustainable and highly productive irrigated fields that were constructed for the first time during the Medieval expansion of Islam along the Mediterranean (from AD 632): Saddina (Morocco), and Huerta de Abarán, Horta de València and Pla de la Vila (Spain). The integration of geoarchaeological methods with the techniques that will be acquired at the host institution, the Kimmel Center for Archaeological Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel (infrared spectroscopy and phytolith concentration quantification analyses) will allow me to study the genesis of traditional irrigated fields from an interdisciplinary perspective. The proposed research will therefore acquire data of practical use for future european policies aiming at transforming rural Mediterranean drylands into intensive agrarian areas. Fields of science engineering and technologycivil engineeringwater engineeringirrigationhumanitiesphilosophy, ethics and religionreligionsislamnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopyabsorption spectroscopysocial sciences Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF HAIFA EU contribution € 184 558,80 Address ABBA KHUSHY BLVD MOUNT CARMEL 31905 Haifa Israel See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Tsvia Beker (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE Participation ended Israel EU contribution No data Address HERZL STREET 234 7610001 Rehovot See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Gabi Bernstein (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data