Details
The end of the 3rd millennium was a time of significant transformation in south-east Arabia (the United Arab Emirates and northern Oman). The cultural homogeneity of the preceding Early Bronze Age, Umm an-Nar period (c. 2700–2000 BC) came to an end and gave way to the Middle Bronze Age, Wadi Suq period (2000–1600 BC). Settlements changed, and possibly began to decline in size and number, the economy changed for many and the important trade in copper ore seems to have declined. In addition, there was a marked change in funerary practices as new types of tombs appeared – both collective and individual burials.
All of this took place within the context of a climatic shift that led to a decline in rainfall across many parts of the region. Much of the countryside of south-eastern Iran was abandoned and the urban period of the Indus Valley was weakening. In the midst of this turmoil, the limited agricultural plains of northern Ras al-Khaimah appear to have developed into an island where there was greater continuity than elsewhere.
This book reports on the excavation of a number of monumental collective tombs that were built there and used through the early part of the 2nd millennium. The way that they were constructed and used as well as the burial goods that they contain throw light on the population of this area, and give some indication of how and why it was that life continued in this small pocket in a way that was different to surrounding regions.
All of this took place within the context of a climatic shift that led to a decline in rainfall across many parts of the region. Much of the countryside of south-eastern Iran was abandoned and the urban period of the Indus Valley was weakening. In the midst of this turmoil, the limited agricultural plains of northern Ras al-Khaimah appear to have developed into an island where there was greater continuity than elsewhere.
This book reports on the excavation of a number of monumental collective tombs that were built there and used through the early part of the 2nd millennium. The way that they were constructed and used as well as the burial goods that they contain throw light on the population of this area, and give some indication of how and why it was that life continued in this small pocket in a way that was different to surrounding regions.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
Derek Kennet
2. The Site and Environment
Derek Kennet
3. The Excavations
Derek Kennet
4. Beads
Anna Hilton
5. Small Finds
Anna Hilton
6. Softstone
Anna Hilton
7. Metalwork
Lloyd Weeks et al.
8. Human Bone
Alyson Caine
9. Isotopes
Janet Montgomery et al.
10. Marine Shell
Hannah Russ
11. Animal Bone
Cameron Smith
12. Conservation
Dana Goodburn-Brown
13. Phasing and Site Interpretation
Derek Kennet, Christian Velde and Michel de Vreeze
14. The Wadi Suq Period in Northern Ras al-Khaimah
Derek Kennet and Christian Velde
15. The Umm an-Nar/Wadi Suq Transition
Derek Kennet
Appendices
