2024 - Documenting and Conserving Medieval Watermills in Wadi Jerash, Jordan
Hidden amid the scenic landscape of Wadi Jerash, Jordan, are the remains of a once-thriving system of medieval watermills and aqueducts, vital to the agricultural economy following the 8th-century earthquake that reshaped the region. Francesco Pagliani’s project, supported by The Barakat Trust, aims to document and safeguard these remarkable but little-studied structures.
The project will systematically survey the surviving watermills, map them using GIS, and create high-resolution 3D models of the mills and their associated aqueducts. Special attention will be given to studying the construction techniques, water management systems, and chronological development of the mills, which served as essential infrastructure from the early Islamic period into the Ottoman era.
This research will contribute critical archaeological evidence to understanding the “agricultural revolution” that transformed rural life in northern Jordan during the medieval period. It will also shed light on how communities adapted to changing political and environmental conditions.
Importantly, the project integrates training for Jordanian university students and Department of Antiquities staff in advanced archaeological documentation methods, contributing to capacity-building in the local heritage sector. Outputs will include a comprehensive digital inventory, academic publications, and conservation recommendations to help safeguard the mills for the future.
Francesco Pagliani is affiliated with Monumenta Orientalia and the University of Florence, where he specialises in late antique and medieval archaeology. His project promises not only to advance academic knowledge but also to engage local communities, who continue to value these mills as part of their cultural landscape.
