Herding, Fishing, Pearling and Trading: Re-examining the Early Neolithic of the Arabian GulfPaper to be presented at the University of York Archaeology Society Annual Conference - 9 June 2001.
Mark J. BeechDepartment of Archaeology, University of York, The King's Manor, York YO1 7EP, U.K. ( E-mail: mjb117@york.ac.uk )ABSTRACT This paper critically examines the previously
described model of interactions between the early hunter-gatherer coastal
fishing communities of the Arabian Gulf. Work carried out over the past
few years has clearly demonstrated that the early Neolithic populations
of this region not only maintained domestic animals and relied heavily
on fishing and the gathering of marine resources, but also that they were
engaged in important craft activities and trade with neighbouring regions.
The results of recent excavations carried out on two contemporary 7000
year old coastal settlements will be evaluated. The first site, Dalma,
is located on an offshore island in the southern Arabian Gulf, whilst the
second site, As-Sabiyah, lies on the shores of Kuwait Bay in the northern
Gulf. Evidence for craft specialisation and the occurrence of date stones
and pearls will be discussed. Finally, the recent exciting discovery of
a ceramic model boat, as well as actual boat fragments, at As-Sabiyah in
Kuwait will be presented. Overall these recent findings are significant
in that they demonstrate a more complex picture of life during the early
Neolithic in the Arabian Gulf.
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