The Band-i-Amir Dam – 10th century

by Meam Wye on January 18, 2010

Although dams have been constructed since ancient times- the first one in 750 BC - medieval Muslims added many innovation to dam construction, maintenance and usage as is evident from the design of many dams built in Iran, Spain, Afghanistan among other places. The use of trigonometry, astrolobes and complex surveying techniques in the construction of these dams resulted in the survival of a number of these dams till today.

One such magnificent dam was the Band-i Amir dam, built in 960AD over the River Kurr between Shiraz and Istakhr in the province of Fars, Iran by Amir Adud al-Dawla. Band-i Amir dam is 250 feet long and 30 feet high and is considered one of the earliest example of the use of dams for hydropower. The water from this dam powered water-raising wheels and watermills – technology pioneered during medieval Islamic civilization.

Al-Muqaddasi , the notable 10th century geographer, wrote about this dam in his famous book ‘Ahsan at-Taqasim fi Ma`rifat il-Aqalim’ (The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions):

‘Adud al-Dawla closed the river between Shiraz and Istakhr by a great wall, strengthened with lead. And the water behind it rose and formed a lake. Upon it on the two sides were ten water-wheels, like those we mentioned in Khuzistan, and below each wheel was a mill, and it is today one of the wonders of Fars. Then he built a city. The water flowed through channels and irrigated 300 villages.’

Badi-i-Amir was constructed with solid masonry blocks that were connected with iron bars set in lead. Cement mortar was used in the joints that binded the structure and made it watertight. The engineers were thus aware of the importance of the quality of mortar and as Al-Balkhi , wrote ”even an iron tool could not scratch it”.

Owing to this high quality of construction, this dam even after more than 1000 years of construction still survives, although it is now silted up.