The Shaduf

A shaduf is an ancient irrigation tool used to lift water from rivers or wells to fields. It consists of a long, pivoted pole balanced on a support, with a bucket or container attached at one end and a counterweight on the other. When the operator pulls down the long arm, the bucket lowers into the water, fills, and then is lifted as the arm pivots upward, dumping the water into nearby channels or fields. This simple lever system efficiently moves water in agricultural settings, especially in regions where modern pumps are unavailable.