Session: #215

Regular session

Context and challenges: The hydrological networks of Central Asia includes some of the major rivers of the world (Syr Darya and Amu Darya) and their mountainous watershed, as well as vast low-land oases and continental seas (Aral, Caspian). Did perception and adaptation to hydrological risks influenced landscape construction as well as social organizations from Prehistory to Timurid periods?
This session aims to address this question and analyse these challenges in a multidisciplinary approach, including all disciplines related to archaeology, paleoenvironment, history, sociology or anthropology. What are the evidences and testimonies of climatic hazards (flood, drought, rivers’ bed displacement, sea-level change), and disasters (people injuries, infrastructure losses and damages)? Can we distinguish the effects of abrupt, short-term events of the ones evolving over the longue-durée on the political, social, economic or cultural processes?Papers will investigate the ways to face water variations, as for example:
-shaping urban networks, and innovative architecture according to risk consciousness and accessibility to water resources (distance from rivers, irrigation canals, cisterns…);
-mobility (desired or unplanned/compulsory), either of nomadic or sedentary people, on a small or large scale (including military disorders and invasions);
-adaptations in agricultural practices (animal selection, floristic evolution);
-reflexion about role of political leaders in these adaptations (planned or unplanned attitudes/evolutions).

Water resources, Climate change, Central Asia, Paleoenvironment, Prehistory and History, Risks

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Camille Rhoné-Quer (France) ^1,2

Elodie Brisset (France) ^3,1
Vohid Kholov (Uzbekistan) ⁴