Aquatic Heritage (Water Installations, Irrigation Techniques and Associated Systems) in the Valleys of Bani Walid City, and the Importance of Documenting and Preserving It

Abstract

The tangible and intangible Aquatic heritage is a civilizational treasure that has been inherited by peoples from the earliest times to the present day, enriching their civilizations throughout time with technologies and innovations. The forms of water installations, irrigation techniques and associated systems, which were characterized by the richness and abundance of their components, are characterized by important heritage treasures, lessons and experience that can be utilized in the control and justice in the distribution of water and the handling of issues related to it. The multiple experiences in agricultural technology and architecture associated with different water resources, including the rituals, customs, traditions and intangible culture lived by the users of these systems, as well as the methods of maintenance and preservation. The preservation of the Aquatic heritage is extremely important because it represents part of the history of our local community in Bani Waleed and the ability of its inhabitants to adapt the natural environment and coexist with limited water resources and scarce rainfall. It is also important in economic and social terms because it includes values that have been a key element in the spatial development of its valleys for long periods of time.