Comments on the lithic material from an 'Ubaid site in the Emirate of Ajman (U.A.E.)

This short note concerns a selection made by E. Haerinck of a few pieces among the lithic artefacts found on the surface of the site reported on in the preceding article (p. 84).     

The third-millennium tombs and settlement at Mowaihat in the Emirate of Ajman, U.A.E.

Evidence of a settlement located near two late third-millennium tombs excavated at Mowaihat in the Emirate of Ajman is presented in order to complete the documentation of this site. Although the settlement evidence is only slight, especially when compared with the substantial architecture of the tombs, it is not atypical of contemporary sites in this region. A possible interpretation is, therefore, proposed in an attempt to explain the various third-millennium tomb and settlement associations that have been reported from the Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates.     

An cUbaid site in the Emirate of Sharjah (U.A.E.)

This article reports on the excavations of a coastal site in Sharjah dating to the 5th millennium BC at which examples of painted ^cUbaid pottery, probably of Mesopotamian origin, were found.     

Camel and horse skeletons from protohistoric graves at Mleiha in the Emirate of Sharjah (U.A.E.)

Animal burials from a graveyard at Mleiha in the interior of the Sharjah Emirate (U.A.E.) are described and documented with regard to the archaeozoology of the represented species. These are two horses, nine dromedaries, and three camel hybrids. The hybrids represent crossbreeds between two-humped Bactrian camels and one-humped Arabian dromedaries where the latter species has been the female parent. According to their central position in the graveyard, the hybrids seem to have been status animals. One of the horses was in a similar position while the other was in a peripheral grave together with a dromedary.     

Four "Iron Age" stamp seals from Qarn bint Sa'ud (Abu Dhabi Emirate – U A.E.)

In this brief contribution, attention is drawn to four stamp seals which were picked up in the late 1980's from the sand dunes covering the so-called and still unexcavated "Iron Age settlement" of Qarn bint Sa'ud in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.     

Excavations at ed-Dur (Umm al-Qaiwain, U.A.E.)

The results of seven weeks'research in 1989 by a Belgian team from Gent University at ed-Dur, in the Emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain, are presented. Excavations were continued in the southern part of the site. A fourth altar was found near the temple (area M); graves were excavated in other areas (areas N and AT). A large, undisturbed, semi-subterranean tomb with a barrel-vault and enclosure (area AV) was also discovered.     

Composite bows at ed-Dur (Umm al-Qaiwain, U.A.E.)

This article discusses seven bone fragments excavated during the second Belgian archaeological campaign at ed-Dur (tomb G.3831, area N). Rather than weaving implements, these objects are identified as the reinforcing bone laths of composite bows. Information on the composite bow in general—origins, structural composition and technical advantages—will be given. Additionally, the question of which types of composite bows could have been present at ed-Dur and what role these weapons could have played at the site are discussed.     

The softstone vessels from Qarn Bint Sa'ud, Abu Dhabi (U.A.E.)

This paper draws attention to thirty unpublished Iron Age softstone vessels from Qarn Bint Sa'ud held in the Al Ain Museum. They are compared with softstone vessels from other Iron Age sites in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman and Mesopotamia, in order to study distribution patterns and exchange.     

The terracotta figurines from ed-Dur (Umm al-Qaiwain, U.A.E.): the human representations

The present article proposes an examination of the human terracotta figurines found during the course of eight archaeological seasons carried out by a Belgian team at the coastal site of ed-Dur in the Emirate of Umm-al-Qaiwain. Since most fragments lack a secure archaeological context, the figurines will be studied mainly in comparison with similar data occurring at other contemporary sites throughout the Gulf and Mesopotamia. We shall see that the ed-Dur figurines appear mostly to be isolated cases coming from abroad instead of objects playing a prominent part in local religious or ritual beliefs.     

Wadi Suq and Iron Age period ceramics from Sharm, Fujairah (U.A.E.)

The Wadi Suq period and Iron Age ceramics from Sharm are examined in terms of morphological, compositional and decorative features. The assemblage is typical of the second- and first-millennium BC ceramics of southeastern Arabia. The more unusual Iron Age 'imitation soft stone' ceramics are amply represented and the Sharm assemblage considerably expands upon this corpus of ceramics which has hitherto been less than abundant in the region. Comparisons with other second- and first-millennium sites suggest the tombs were largely occupied in the late Wadi Suq period, a pattern of occupation which again peaked in the Iron Age II period.     

The terracotta figurines from ed-Dur (Umm al-Qaiwain, U.A.E.): The animal representations

Ten fragments of animal figurines from ed-Dur, the largest site of the 1^st century A.D. in southeastern Arabia, are published and compared with material from other sites in the Near East. The figurines are discussed in light of broader issues relating to the representation of birds and animals in pre-Islamic Arabia.     

Kush: a Sasanian and Islamic-period archaeological tell in Ras al-Khaimah (U.A.E.)

With contributions by Mark Beech (University of York, U.K.), Adrian Parker (School of Geography, University of Oxford, U.K.) and Alan Pipe (Museum of London Archaeological Service, U.K.     

Note on an Ubaid-pottery site in the Emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain

This short note concerns a small shell concentration in the emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain, U.A.E., where chipped stone and pottery of Mesopotamian Ubaid type has been found. The site and finds are described and their place within the broader context of Ubaid pottery sites in the Gulf region is briefly discussed.     

Excavations at ed-Dur (Umm al-Qaiwain, U.A.E.) - preliminary report on the fifth Belgian season (1991)

The results of six weeks'research in 1991 by a Belgian team from Gent University, at ed-Dur, in the Emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain, are presented. Several new areas were opened which provide additional information on burial practices. Some structures built of mudbricks were excavated and a variety of small finds add further to the already elaborate corpus.