State and irrigation: archeological and textual evidence of water management in late Bronze Age China

Ancient China remains an important case to investigate the relationship between statecraft development and ‘total power.’ While important economic and social developments were achieved in the late Neolithic, it was not until the late Bronze Age (first millennium BC) that state-run irrigation systems began to be built. Construction of large-scale irrigation projects, along with walls and defensive facilities, became vital to regional states who were frequently involved in chaotic warfare and desperate to increase food production to feed the growing population. Some of the irrigation infrastructures were brought into light by recent archeological surveys. We scrutinize fast accumulating archeological evidence and review rich historical accounts on late Bronze Age irrigation systems. While the credibility of historical documents is often questioned, with a robust integration with archeological data, they provide important information to understand functions and maintenance of the irrigation projects. We investigate structure and organization of large-scale irrigation systems built and run by states and their importance to understanding dynamic trajectories to social power in late Bronze Age China. Cleverly designed based on local environmental and hydrological conditions, these projects fundamentally changed water management and farming patterns, with dramatic ecological consequences in different states. Special bureaucratic divisions were created and laws were made to further enhance the functioning of these large-scale irrigation systems. We argue that they significantly increased productivity by converting previously unoccupied land into fertile ground and pushed population threshold to a new level. A hypothesis should be tested in further archeological research

Cuxton, Kent - Integrated Site Report

As part of an extensive programme of archaeological investigation carried out in advance of the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), the Museum of London Archaeology Service was commissioned to undertake the detailed excavation of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Cuxton in Kent (centre at OS NGR 572000 167350) following desk-based assessment and trial trenching. In the course of the excavation a concentration of later prehistoric archaeological features was also exposed and recorded. The excavation was carried out between July 1998 and September 1998, under the project management of Rail Link Engineering, on behalf of Union Railways (South) Limited (a subsidiary of London and Continental Railways)

Data from a Geophysical Survey at Allum Lane, Elstree, Hertfordshire, August 2023

This collection comprises magnetometer data and georeferenced raster plots of processed magnetometer data from a geophysical survey covering c6.4ha of land to the south of Allum Lane, Elstree, Hertfordshire. Work was commissioned by RPS Consulting and undertaken by Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) in August 2023. The aim of the survey was to identify and map any archaeological remains that may be affected by a proposed development. Little evidence for archaeological features was detected by the survey

Beechbrook Wood, ARC BBW 98

The Museum of London Archaeology Service undertook an archaeological evaluation on the site of Beechbrook Wood, to the south-east of Charing and to the north-west of Ashford, between the 12th and the 28th of August 1998. The evaluation explored the area north-west of a site excavated in 1997, ARC BWD97, and forms part of a larger programme of archaeological investigations along the future Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the aim of which is to assess the effect of construction upon the cultural heritage. Fourteen of the thirty nine trenches revealed archaeological features, The majority of features were linear field drains and ditches dating predominantly to the late Iron Age to early Romano-British period. Several tree boles and two possible firepits were also identified. Several late Prehistoric sherds and medieval building material was found residually

Tutt Hill, ARC TUT 98

The Museum of London Archaeology Service undertook an archaeological evaluation on the site of Tutt Hill, to the south-east of Charing and to the north-west of Ashford, between the 6th and the 7th of August 1998. The fieldwork forms part of a series of evaluations which were added to the larger programme of archaeological investigations excavated in 1997 along the line of the future Channel Tunnel Rail Link. The aim was to assess the effect of construction of the new railway upon the cultural heritage. Archaeological features of recent date were recorded in four (3305TT - 3308TT) of the nine trial trenches. An undated stone wall foundation and ditch were located in trench 3311TT. Two sherds of medieval pottery and a struck flint were also recovered

Stratford Freight Terminal, ARC SFT 96

The site (SFT96) is located at the Stratford Freight Terminal in the London Borough of Newham. It lies within the floodplain of the River Lea at a height of between 4.22m and 6.78m OD, and covers an area centred on TQ 5382 1847. No previous archaeological or antiquarian explorations or findings have been recorded within the limits of the site, so that the principal indicator of its potential is a series of 30 trial pits excavated for geotechnical purposes by Foundation & Exploration Services Ltd. The Museum of London Archaeological Service (MoLAS) was commissioned by the latter to provide an archaeological assessment of the results, and the pits were accordingly monitored