Surface Hydrology Dataset for the Jazira Region of Syria

This surface hydrology dataset complements 13 other datasets as part of a study that compared ancient settlement patterns with modern environmental conditions in the Jazira region of Syria.

This study examined settlement distribution and density patterns over the past five millennia using archaeological survey reports and French 1930s 1:200,000 scale maps to locate and map archaeological sites. An archaeological site dataset was created and compared to and modelled with soil, geology, terrain (contour), surface and subsurface hydrology and normal and dry year precipitation pattern datasets; there are also three spreadsheet datasets providing 1963 precipitation and temperature readings collected at three locations in the region. The environmental datasets were created to account for ancient and modern population subsistence activities, which comprise barley and wheat farming and livestock grazing.

These environmental datasets were subsequently modelled with the archaeological site dataset, as well as, land use and population density datasets for the Jazira region. Ancient trade routes were also mapped and factored into the model, and a comparison was made to ascertain if there was a correlation between ancient and modern settlement patterns and environmental conditions; the latter influencing subsistence activities.

All surface hydrology was captured for this dataset including ephemeral streams such as wadis. This dataset's attributes include stream order (0 to 6) and types (ephemeral, intermittent and permanent) and values. Settlement pattern evidence suggests that water runoff, from ephemeral and seasonal streams, could have been used to irrigate crops? Rainfall patterns in the Jazira region indicate more for higher elevations, this occurring during wetter times of the year (winter and spring).

本地表水文数据集（surface hydrology dataset）作为叙利亚杰济拉地区某项研究的组成部分，与其余13项数据集共同支撑该研究，该研究旨在对比古代聚落分布模式与现代环境条件。

该项研究依托考古调查报告与20世纪30年代法国印制的1:20万比例尺地图，对该区域过去五千年来的聚落分布与密度格局展开分析，以定位并绘制考古遗址分布图。研究团队构建了考古遗址数据集，并将其与土壤、地质、地形（等高线）、地表与地下水文、平年与旱年降水模式等数据集开展比对与建模分析；另有3份电子表格数据集，收录了该地区3处观测点1963年的降水与气温观测数据。上述环境数据集的构建旨在覆盖古代与现代人口生计活动范畴，涵盖大麦与小麦种植及畜牧放牧活动。

随后，研究团队将上述环境数据集与杰济拉地区的考古遗址数据集、土地利用及人口密度数据集开展联合建模。研究团队同时绘制了古代贸易路线图并将其纳入模型变量，通过对比分析以探明古代与现代聚落格局与环境条件之间是否存在相关性——而环境条件正是影响人口生计活动的核心驱动因素。

本数据集收录了该区域全部地表水文信息，包括干谷（wadis）这类暂时性溪流（ephemeral streams）。该数据集的属性字段包含河流级别（stream order，0至6级）、河流类型（暂时性、间歇性与永久性）及对应数值。现有聚落格局相关证据表明，暂时性与季节性溪流产生的地表径流或曾被用于农田灌溉？杰济拉地区的降水分布规律显示，高海拔区域降水量更为充沛，且降水多集中于一年中的湿润时段（冬季与春季）。