Wells Designed for Livestock

WELLS DESIGNED FOR LIVESTOCK

1. Wells

A well is a deep hole dug in the ground to access natural resources. Generally, wells were originally designed by the Sangam people for peoples' and livestocks' drinking purposes. Wells have been used in many cultures around the world for over 8000 years. The first wells would have probably been dug manually or with very simple tools. They stored water and provided access to bring ground water to the surface.

Cattle herders dig small holes in the earth with sharp sticks held in their hands. The following Purananooru verse mentions that the water kept soaking in such dug pits were used by the cattle for drinking and the women used it for cooking.

This generation knows only a few bodies of water like lakes, ponds and rivers. But our forefathers created and maintained more than 40 water sources. Renovation and maintenance of those water bodies is enough to prevent water shortage in Tamil Nadu. From the books noted below, it can be understood about well drilling, nature of wells and water levels.

Proofs

1. Mayamatham: Kodumudi S. Shanmugam mentions that we had an engineering text called 'Mayamatham' which explained constructions like well digging, etc.,

2. Gnanavalliyam: This is a book which describes the nature of the land for drilling wells.

3. Koomanool: It is a book that helps us to know the state of water.

2. Dew Pond (or) Dew Well

A snow lake is an artificial lake usually located on the top of a mountain. It is generally designed for providing water for livestock. Ice ponds are used in areas where a natural supply of surface water is not readily available. There are evidences that these ice ponds were used for cattle during the Sangam period.

Proof

In 1865, the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society mentions about Panikulam. In which it is believed that the source of water is rain instead of snow or fog.

Construction

Ice ponds are usually shallow and saucer-shaped. These are lined with clay and lime on top of an insulating layer of straw on top of the lime underlayer. Lime or charcoal is mixed with the clay to prevent upward burrowing by earthworms. This makes the clay porus.

The clay is usually covered with straw to prevent cracking by the sunlight. To retain more rain, the clay layer can be extended throughout the catchment area of the pond. Evaporation is reduced if the pond temperature is low. Thus, the collected rain water is maintained.

Proof

According to the researcher Edward Martin, this can be achieved by building the pond in a hollow, where cold air gathers and keeps the surrounding grass long enough to increase heat radiation,

As the water level drops in the basin, cool, moist air is formed at the surface of the well, limiting evaporation.

Proof

The Field 14 December 1907 describes a method of forming a base layer using lime slurry.

3. Ice Basins of Sangam Period

A farmer born in 1850 tells how their ancestors made ice ponds.

A hole of required size is dug and a layer of lime is laid down. It was ground well by bullocks locked on a heavy stone wheel, then sprinkled with water and ground well with this wheel for a whole day to form a paste (cream). After a few days, without snow or heavy rain, the lime will become as hard as cement as a bridge. These will protect the stored water from leaking for years.

This ancient method of forming ice ponds seems to have died out when the oxen disappeared from the Sussex hills.