What Can Ancient Cities Teach Modern Urbanites?

"A study at a US university is the latest to use ancient cities to mine secrets for today's urban centers.

Funded by the US National Science Foundation, a team of scientists at the Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University (ASU) have embarked on a survey of ancient cities titled "Service Access in Pre-Modern Cities."

"The study aims to discern patterns of access to markets, worship sites, and other urban facilities that existed in ancient, non-Western urban areas," writes Mary Jander.

"By looking at archeological records and other data, the ASU team hopes to see how old cities planned access to these services by social class or other factors. In turn, this information could help modern cities set policies about access to similar services that affect the use of resources such as water and energy."

Jander goes on to discuss 15 ancient cities and the lessons they impart on cities of the 21st century.