Facts About Shaduf: Find Out How This Unique Tool Works
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For starters, shaduf is a hand-operated device that ancient Egypt used to take water out of the well or reservoir.
People in Egypt, India, and other countries still use this device. It seems quite efficient and easy to use for an ancient device.
Experts estimate that people invest minimal effort to take more than 660 gal (2,500 liters) per day using a shaduf. Also commonly known as shadoof, it has a long wooden pole and gets its balance from a beam. The pole has an attached bucket extended by a rope and a counterweight on the other end of the balance.
History Of Shaduf
Ancient Egyptians grew everything they needed to eat. Most villagers were farmers, and they lived with their families.
It was during the flooding season that farmers would make new tools. Simple farming tools like scoops, rakes, and plows were common at the time. As the flooding season ends and the fields dry, the plants tend to wither and die.
The Nile River leaves behind some mud that needs a lot of watering and hot sun. Farmers trapped the flood water to fix this gap, so they didn't have to go to the Nile River to get water.
This is when shaduf was introduced. Farmers needed something like a shaduf to take water from the canal.
As mentioned earlier, it is a big pole balanced with the rope and the bucket on either end. As they pulled the rope, the bucket went into the canal, and they swung it around to empty it. It helps farmers move water from a lower place to a higher location.
Usage Of Shaduf
A typical shaduf can hold 5.28 gal (20 liters) of water, and they made the container parts with animal skins or clay. While it was primarily used to manage water flow and for irrigation, it is believed that the Egyptians used massive versions of this device to lift stone blocks of up to 15 tonnes (15,000 kg).
Significance Of Shaduf
Evidence in some Egyptian tombs reveals that people used shaduf back in ancient times. It is confirmed by archaeologists and historians learning about daily life in ancient Egypt.
Back in the days, Egyptians built a reservoir using mud and bricks to hold water. When it was flooding season, a network is used to fill water, and they used shadufs to fill the reservoirs again.
The experts studying Egytian civilization and culture wanted to learn more about this concept and started the SHADUF project in 2004 to understand the irrigation techniques followed during the period.
Ancient Egyptians developed this device to help a farmer lift water or raise water from a lower level to help him manage the crops. The flood filled the irrigation canals and reservoirs, and shaduf is the tool they used to help them refill them as need be.
FAQs
Why was the shaduf so important?
Egyptian farmers faced flooding season every June. The water flow had to be sufficient to continue farming without letting the crops die. Shaduf was primarily used to move water from lower to higher levels.
How does a shaduf work?The shaduf has a beam with two ends. A container is suspended from the long end, with a counterweight on the shorter end.
An operator pulls the rope to lower the bucket deep enough for it to submerge, filling it with water. Upon release, the counterweight raises the bucket to a higher level, and the bucket is emptied.
Where is the shaduf used today?
Shaduf is used in some parts of Egypt, India, and other countries.
How to make the Egyptian shaduf model?
To be suspended on one end, you need a large pole mounted like a seesaw on a crossbeam, a rope, and a bucket. Also, find a heavy counterweight to have on the other end. The shaduf is simple to make.
Where was the shaduf invented?
Shaduf was invented in Egypt.
What were the measurements of an ancient Egyptian shaduf?
The device has a long boom and horizontal support suspended from 8-10 ft (2.4–3 m) above the ground.
What is the meaning of shaduf?
Shaduf is a noun. It is a mechanism used to raise water from one level to another.
What did the ancient Egyptians' shaduf use as a counterweight?
Water wheels helped the shadufs to operate. People used clay, stone, and similar items as counterweights.
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Sources
https://www.interestingfacts.org.uk/what-was-a-shaduf-used-for/
http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/egypt/farming.htm
https://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/science/tech/terms/shaduf
https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/shaduf
https://primaryfacts.com/3336/shaduf-facts-and-information/
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