As the name of this dam indicates, it is constructed by using locally available soil predominantly.
These dam have been constructed since early days of civilisation.
Even today, earthen dams are the most common types of dams.
The following are the main reasons due to which these dams have been and still continue to be the most commonly used types.
The basic material used in the construction, is the local soil.
This aspect makes these dams economical.
The science of soil mechanics has recently developed to such a stage that dams constructed from earth by adopting the modern theories of soil mechanics, can be as equally relied upon as those of gravity dams.
No specific type of foundation is required.
They can be constructed on any type of foundation.
