Dawoodi aflaj in the Nizwa state in the Sultanate of Oman: Daris and AlKhatmeen Falajs as models, An architectural and archaeological study

The Sultanate of Oman is famous for
possessing many aflaj, The aflaj is a ground
water recourse that originates from mountains
of Oman and caters the needs of drinking
water and of agriculture by gravity flow. Five
aflaj in Oman were identified as world
heritage centre by UNESCO, including two
aflaj located at Nizwa area, and they are Falaj
Daris which is considered one of the biggest
aflaj in Oman, and Falaj Al Khatmeen.
Aflaj in Oman are divided into three types
according to the diversity of their sources.
These three main types of aflaj are: Dawoodi
“long underground channels”, Ghaili “shallow
channels fed by ponds and running water”,
and Ainy “extracting water from springs”. In Dawoodi falaj system a mother well is constructed to a depth below the groundwater levelin the acquifer. from the mother well, tunnels are constructed to convey water to the surface and subsequent transport to the point of claims and uses. The research focuses on the type of Dawoodi aflaj in the state of Nizwa, one of the states of the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman.