The use of historical sources in a multi-layered methodology for karez research in Turpan, China

Abstract

In this article, we will be presenting an overview of possible research methods to handle historical sources. This will be considered in the specific casus of karez landscapes. A karez system is an underground irrigation system, prevalent in the Turpan basin of China. Sources and the associated methodology have become more important in this day and age because of contemporary issues such as modernisation, urbanisation and agricultural expansion. These problems make it harder to read the landscape, which is why we have to start extracting our data from maps, reports, photographs, satellite imagery. We will give a short overview of sources, each with an explanation of their processing method. Despite certain cautions that should be taken, they clearly complement the current state of knowledge on the Turpan karez