Name of Monument:

Beni-Isguen Dam

Also known as:

Ahbas

Location:

Beni Isguen, M’zab, Algeria

Date of Monument:

10th/16th century

Description:

The great Beni-Isguen Dam is also known as ahbas and this name has spread to the whole surrounding region. Upstream of the qsar, it is built over the bed of the N'tissa Wadi, spanning one of the narrowest gaps between the two hills that flank the palm grove.
The dam is 430 m long, 8 m high, 3 m wide at its base and 1 m wide at the top. It is divided into two main parts.
Firstly, the spillway and distributor, which is 77 m wide and runs down on a slightly diagonal path; 74 vertically set stones break the power of the water current and allow the umanas (flood water management commission) to measure the height of the floods from the level at each stone. At the top of the spillway a post (sham'a or candle) of predetermined height indicates a dangerous flood level. If the water rises to this height, an immediate alert is given to evacuate the whole palm grove and the qsar area further downstream.
The second part of the dam is the natural reservoir which feeds the ground water. Two wells dug out at the level of the dam accelerate and ease the feed to the ground water and so reduce the effect of evaporation caused by the extensive surface area of the stored water, especially during hot weather.

View Short Description

The great Beni-Isguen dam is situated upstream of the qsar in the bed of the N'tissa Wadi. It consists of two parts; the spillway, along which are set stones for measuring the water level and to give the alert in case of dangerous floods; and the reservoir in contact with the ground water via two wells.

How Monument was dated:

Taken from regional written accounts.

Selected bibliography:

Didillon, C. and Pierre D., Habiter le desert, les maisons mozabites, Brussels, 1986.
Rapport sur les sites et monuments de la vallée, OPU, Algiers, 1986.

Citation of this web page:

Lakhdar Drias "Beni-Isguen Dam" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;dz;Mon01;30;en

Prepared by: Lakhdar Drias
Copyedited by: Margot Cortez
Translation by: David Ash
Translation copyedited by: Mandi GomezMandi Gomez

Amanda Gomez is a freelance copy-editor and proofreader working in London. She studied Art History and Literature at Essex University (1986–89) and received her MA (Area Studies Africa: Art, Literature, African Thought) from SOAS in 1990. She worked as an editorial assistant for the independent publisher Bellew Publishing (1991–94) and studied at Bookhouse and the London College of Printing on day release. She was publications officer at the Museum of London until 2000 and then took a role at Art Books International, where she worked on projects for independent publishers and arts institutions that included MWNF’s English-language editions of the books series Islamic Art in the Mediterranean. She was part of the editorial team for further MWNF iterations: Discover Islamic Art in the Mediterranean Virtual Museum and the illustrated volume Discover Islamic Art in the Mediterranean.

True to its ethos of connecting people through the arts, MWNF has provided Amanda with valuable opportunities for discovery and learning, increased her editorial experience, and connected her with publishers and institutions all over the world. More recently, the projects she has worked on include MWNF’s Sharing History Virtual Museum and Exhibition series, Vitra Design Museum’s Victor Papanek and Objects of Desire, and Haus der Kulturen der Welt’s online publication 2 or 3 Tigers and its volume Race, Nation, Class.

MWNF Working Number: AL 39

RELATED CONTENT

 Artistic Introduction

 Timeline for this item


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