Details
Excavations at ed-Dur by a team from Ghent University (Belgium) resulted in the discovery of the only known temple in southeast Arabia for this period. The small single-roomed almost square structure was preserved to a height of more than 2 meters, with outside walls decorated with fine plasterwork of marginally drafted ashlar masonry. In the immediate vicinity of the sanctuary a well and several freestanding structures related to the cult were excavated as well as a rectangular stone basin on top of a stone socle. This publication presents the full excavation report as well as an analysis and interpretation of possible rituals that took place in and around the temple. These rituals are reviewed against the very limited information we have on pre-Islamic religion and practices in the region.