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← HistoryWhich outcome was primarily mitigated by the stepped design of Mesopotamian ziggurats managing irrigation flows?
A)Foundation instability from water saturation
B)Erosion by concentrated surface runoff✓
C)Salt accumulation in the brickwork
D)Differential settling due to soil compaction
💡 Explanation
When rain fell or irrigation excess occurred, the stepped design acted as a tiered drainage system, preventing erosion because it dispersed runoff energy gradually as gravity moves water downwards. Therefore erosion by runoff was mitigated, rather than saturation, salt damage, or settling from different soil properties which required different soil issues.
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