🇨🇳 China · Hydraulic works
Zhengguo Canal – Jingyang Irrigation Canal (Zheng Guo Qu)
Warring States to Han continuous · Qin with Han engineer Zheng Guo (鄭國)
246 BCE 'sabotage' canal that irrigated 27,000 ha and enabled Qin to unify China.
🇾🇪 Yemen · Hydraulic works
Marib Dam
Sabaean Kingdom, Early South Arabian (~1750 BCE – 570 CE) · Sabaean (South Arabian, Kingdom of Saba)
Earthfill diversion dam spanning the Wadi Adhanah and flanked by the limestone North and South Sluices with Sabaean monumental inscriptions.
🇹🇿 Tanzania · Earthwork
Engaruka
Iron Age Iraqw / Sonjo (15th–19th c intensive agricultural) · Iraqw / Sonjo (Datoga/Maasai pressure oral)
3,000 ha irrigated stone terrace and furrow system with 500+ compounds and 5 km canals on Rift escarpment – irrigation without state.
🇮🇳 India · Hydraulic works
Kallanai Grand Anicut East Channel
Early Historic to Medieval · Early Chola, Medieval Chola, Vijayanagara
800-m-east Kallanai east channel with 9-sluice Chola regulator feeding east delta.
🇮🇷 Iran · Hydraulic works
Qanat of Zarch, Yazd
Achaemenid to present ~700 BCE–present · Persian (Median/Achaemenid onward)
71 km 2,115-shaft Zarch qanat - world's longest - still feeding Yazd after 3,000 years.
🇮🇳 India · Hydraulic works
Kallanai South Sluice — Grand Anicut Vennar Distributary Head
Chola Early historic to Medieval (100 – 1030 CE) · Tamil Chola hydraulic statecraft
South Vennar regulator of 2nd-c Chola anicut with Rajendra I inscriptions 1012 CE.
🇾🇪 Yemen · Hydraulic works
Marib Dam East Wadi Dhana Barrage
Sabaean to Himyarite · Kingdom of Saba (Sabaean South Arabian) then Himyar
480-m east rockfill barrage of Great Marib Dam at Balaq Hills gap.
🇯🇴 Jordan · Hydraulic works
Rai Jawa North Canal Hydraulic System
Early Bronze Age IA · Proto-Jawa
1.8-km spate canal feeding 12-ha bunded fields north of Jawa town.
🇩🇿 Algeria · Ancient city
Lamasba
Roman (2nd c. CE–7th c. CE) · Roman (Numidia)
Municipium famed for 220 CE water-law inscription regulating drought rotation.