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.     

A late pre-Islamic burial at al-Khatt, U.A.E.

Gravegoods comprising local and imported pottery together with iron arrowheads were 'rescued'from a burial at al-Khatt, U.A.E., in 1993. Their relation to the chronology established at Mleiha suggests that they date from the late 3rd to early 2nd centuries BC, a period as yet little known in the Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah.     

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 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This paper draws attention to thirty unpublished Iron Age softstone vessels from Qarn Bint Sa'ud held in the Al Ain Museum.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.     

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.     

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.     

Excavations at ed-Dur (Umm al-Qaiwain, U.A.E.) – preliminary report on the fourth Belgian season (1990)

The results of six weeks'research in 1990 by a Belgian team from Gent University at ed-Dur, in the Emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain, are presented. Research concentrated on the central part of the site, where the excavation of a large, undisturbed, semi-subterranean tomb with a barrel-vault and enclosure (area AV) was continued. The tomb contained a variety of glass and bronze vessels, bone plaques, iron weapons and numerous small finds. Work was also done in the southern part of the site, where several new areas were opened. A nicely built, circular, stone-lined well was found along with graves and other structures.     

Excavations at ed-Dur (Umm al-Qaiwain, U.A.E.) — Preliminary report on the sixth Belgian season (1992)

The results of six weeks'research in 1992 by a Belgian team from Gent University at ed-Dur in the Emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain are presented. The excavations concentrated on the areas BQ and BR, where a total of almost 2700 m² were excavated. Both areas contained mostly graves, all plundered, however, except for some plain earth-burials. These large exposures provided a vast amount of various objects and pottery and gave further information on burial practices of the 1st cent. A.D. in southeastern Arabia.     

Trilobate arrowheads at ed-Dur (U.A.E, Emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain)

This article discusses the trilobate arrowheads excavated at ed-Dur during the different campaigns. Special emphasis is placed on the trilobate or three-lobed type of arrowhead because these appear rather suddenly and are not widespread in southeastern Arabia. The broader cultural, geographical and historical framework of these arrowheads is sketched in order to place the ed-Dur material in context.     

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.     

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.     

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.