(Fifth Report 1989) Annual Magazine concerned with publication of the result of archaeological excavations and researches in the Emirate of Sharjah Archaeology Authority - Govt. of Sharjah

Chairman: Dr. Sabah Abood Jasim

General Supervisor: Eisa Yousif

Managing Editor: Fawzy Saleh

CONTRIBUTORS: j. Besancon - R. Dalongeville M. Drieux - M. Millet R. Boucharlat - H. David P. Garczynski - M. Mouton A. Prieur

Directorate of Archaeology Dept. of Culture & Information Sharjah - U.A.E

French Archaeological Mission Ministère des Relations Extérieurs GIS- Maison de l’Orient- CNRS- France

Designed & Printed by: Fairmont P.P.S. Copyright Reserved© for Sharjah Archaeology Authority Second Edition - 2019 P.O. Box: 30300 - SHARJAH Tel.: +971 - 6 - 5668000 Fax:+971 - 6 - 5660334 Website: www.sharjaharchaeology.com E-mail: [email protected] Index

Introduction ...... 7

I- Surveys and Soundings

A. Survey and soundings at Muwailah (Sharjah Airport), by Michel

Mouton and Remy Boucharlat ...... 10

B. Survey in the Sharjah Territories along the East Coast. A short

note, by Remy Boucharlat...... 14 II- Surveys and Excavations in al-Madam Plain

A. Morphological study of the inner basin or Sharjah, by Jacques

Besancon and Remi Dalongeville...... 16

B. Reconnaissance on P.28 site ( North)...... 19

1. P.28 Mleiha North. Archaeological soundings, by Marie Millet...... 20

2. P.28 Mleiha North. Notes on the malacofauna, by Abel Prieur...... 24

C. Excavations at Mleiha, the 3rd season, by Michel Mouton, Remy

Boucharlat and Paul Garczynski...... 25

D. Mleiha 1989. Conversation and restoration. A Preliminary report,

by Monique Drieux...... 33

INTRODUCTION

Remy Boucharlat

The fifth season of surveys and excavation of the Joint Archaeological expedition to the Sharjah Emirate took place from November 26,1988 until March 15, 1989. The 89 Programme aims to complete the archaeological survey (Dhaid al-Madam Plain; Eastern Territories), to carry the demand of the Directorate of Archaeology, Department of Culture, Sharjah and to continue the excavations at Mleiha. This co-operation programme is placed under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammad al-Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah who has at heart to keep himself informed of the results. Because of his keen interest, H.H. paid a long visit to Mleiha on March 7,1989 accompanied by all the Authorities of the Department of Culture. Everyone concerned by the programme was greatly honoured of that important visit. May we express our thanks to these Authorities who showed their interest and helped the Expedition in various ways. During the season, the number of visitors, the frequent coming of journalists from the newspaper and the TV’s attested the growing interest of various parts of the population of the National Heritage. It is very important that the inhabitants and foreign residents in the country are willing to know and to preserve this Heritage. It is a pleasant duty to thank persons and institutions who have made possible the success of the 1989 season. In Sharjah Emirate, we have to appreciate the co-operation of the Department of Culture and represented efficiently by our colleague and friend Mr. Mustafa Tawfiq al Hazeem. The Municipality of Sharjah, Dr. Ibrahim Ka’eka’e and his staff of the Survey Department were so helpful as usual; the Dhaid Municipality did its best for arranging the Expedition house in Mleiha. In , the French Embassy brought us all the necessary help. We express our gratitude to H.E. the Ambassador and to Mr. C. Jouret, Cultural Attache, who showed their interest in our research and in this co-operation programme. To the French Company, TOTAL-CFP, to `Mr. J.De Vaulx his Representative in Abu Dhabi and Mrs. Y.Bell Gambart, Director of the Department “Action Culturelle” in Paris we are indebted for

Fifth Report 7 their invaluable help in taking care of hundreds kilos of samples from the site to our Labs. in France, as they did in the past years. In France, our programme is supported with grant of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and grants and logistic help from the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), namely the URA913 Group, directed by Dr.P.Sanlaville in the Maison de l’Orient, Lyon and the center de Recherches Archéologiques (CRA) Valbonne. From this year we have started a fruitful co-operation with Electricite de France (EDF), Direction des Etudes et Recherches. In the frame of technological patronage, this institution has offered a programme of restoration of metal objects unearthed in Sharjah. Thanks to a three-month contract for our conservator and the disposal of the lab, a series of important bronze objects was analysed, cleaned, treated and restored in Paris; they will be returned to Sharjah soon. For the field research, the members of the team under the direction of Dr.Remy Boucharlat, archaeologist, were: 1- Survey programme: Prof. Jacques Besancon, geomorphologist, Dr. Remi Dallongeville, geomorphologist, Miss. Marie Millet, prehistorian, Dr. Abel Prieur, Malacologist. 2- Excavations programme: Miss. Anne Benoist, archaeologist. Miss. Helene David, draughtswoman Miss. Monique Drieux, conservator Mr. Paul Gracynski, architect-surveyor Mr. Francois de Keroualin, archaeologist, Mr. Michel Mouton, archaeologist, field-director. The lab. research is less visible, but quite important since it gives consistency to the field research. Several persons and institutions are dealing with the result which were obtained in 1989 and in the past few years.

8 Fifth Report For the research carried out in the Dhaid al-Madam Plain, let us mention Prof. P.Bernier (Sedimentology), Prof. B. Braind and Dr. Santallier (Petrography), all three from Lyon 1 University and Prof. P.Sanlaville (Geomorphology), CNRS Maison de l’Orient. For the survey of the Sharjah Coast (1985-1988), besides the above mentioned specialists, we are grateful to Dr. P. Amieux (Cathodoluminescence), Prof. J.Evin (Radiocarbone), both from Lyon 1 University, Dr. A.Hesse (Geophysic), CNRS Grachy, Dr. A. M. Lachenal (Ostracods) and Dr. E. Samuel (vegetal Biology), Lyon 1 University, Mr. V. de medwecki (sedimentology). CNRS, ura 913, Dr. R. Petiot (Geomorphology), CNRS,- Lyon 2 University, CNRS, lab. Of Geomorphology in Cean. For their help in the study of the written evidence found in Mleiha we would like to thank our colleagues in the CNRS Dr. Y.Calvet (Greek stamped amphora handles), Dr. C.Robin (South Arabic) and Dr. J.Texidor (Semitic). The present interim report has been prepared by Mr. A.Pecontal-Lambert (archaeologist and Physical anthropologist). It is presented according to two parts: I- The research in the Sharjah Emirate, wit the rescue operation at Sharjah Airport site Muwailah, on Iron Age and islamic site, and the survey along the East Coast in the Sharjah Territories. II- The research in the Dhaid al-Madam Plain, with the last season of the geomorphological survey; the special operation at site P.28, in the Northern part of Mleiha, where flints, shells and potsherds are mixed up; the survey and excavations at Mleiha, with a note on the restoration of the objects.

Fifth Report 9 SURVEYS AND SOUNDINGS AT MUWAILAH (SHARJAH AIRPORT) A short report

Michel Mouton and Remy Boucharlat

On the request of the Department of Archaeology, Department of Culture, Sharjah, the French Archaeological Mission in Sharjah has taken in Charge the archaeological reconnaissance of the Muwailah area, South of Sharjah Airport. This area is located 3 km east of the eastern edge of Sharjah city and it will be urbanized in the very near future. The Municipality of Sharjah, in charge of the planning of this new area, has advised the Department of Archaeology to check the site where a significant number of artifacts are visible on the surface. Some of them were collected by employees and brought to the Department of Archaeology (Fig. 3-4 and 25.5). As a matter of fact the aim of that reconnaissance was an evaluation of the archaeological interest of Muwailah regarding the National Heritage. After a visit of the site in Mid, December 1988, we carried out some soundings and surveyed this area which extends over 10 ha. The operation took place between 31 December 1988 and 11 January 1989, and lasted 7 days, later, two more days have been devoted to topographical survey to confirm the limits of archaeological area. Miss H. David has drawn the artifacts, a selection of which is presented here (Fig 7-9).

The archaeological site: The archaeological area (Fig.2) extends into four corners defined by modern roads crossing at the roundabout (see the 1/25.000 Municipality map, no 34-78) over more than 1 sq. km. as a whole, the site is situated on a higher surface about 30 m above the sea level. The artifacts are scattered between the sand dunes in various concentrations. They are mainly pottery sherds on the slopes of ancient dunes and on large flat surfaces between the dunes (Fig 25:1). Generally speaking, the intertidal troughs are less clear than in the Hamriyah area. Moreover to the West, there is a steep slope leading to a lower area (about 25m a.s.l) which is covered by a present day dune field which is growing year after year according to the local inhabitants witnesses. This evolution comes from the public works which are carried out in Sharjah city. They remove the sand which is taken up by the wind.

10 Fifth Report There are two main archaeological areas: - The first one is located about 700 m W-SW from the roundabout, between two modern graveyards (see fig. 2). While there are some modern sherds, the bulk of the pottery clearly belongs to the 1st millennium B.C., the Iron Age. - The second main area is situated about 500 m NE of the roundabout. There the pottery sherds are less numerous than in the above mentioned area but they all date from the last centuries before present days, the modern islamic period. According to our survey, there is no remain of the other known periods, namely the late prehistoric period, the Bronze Age and the Hellenistic period.

The SW site - 1st millennium B.C. (Iron Age) The Iron Age occupation extends over 2 Hactares with some more important concentrations of pottery sherds: first, two mounds (1m and 2m high) and on the gentle slopes, steeper and steeper, which go down westwards to the dune fields. In that area, the ancient surface is partly covered by small moving dunes, a feature we have already noted in the Hamriyah area. For testing the site, we carried out three soundings on these pottery scatterings (see fig.2). 1- A 10 x 2.5m trench on the top of the highest mound, an ancient dune now fixed. Three occupation levels were evidenced there (fig. 5:1). 2- A 5 x 5m square, near a modern track, where no structure is visible on the surface. 3- A surface cleaning extending over 150 sq.m. on the top of a rather big mound 50 m. in diameter and 2m. high. This ancient dune is partly constituted of hardened sand slabs and sand blocks. These blocks have been shaped into heaps by the inhabitants may be for arranging a kind of camp (fig. 5:2 and 6). Altogether these soundings have shown a widespread occupation giving a stratigraphy in some places. The levels contain several heaps of hardened sand slabs which are widely available on the surface throughout the site. We can suggest that these stone-like slabs were used 3.000 years ago for setting non-permanent buildings such as barastis or tents. We have already evidenced such type of settlements along the coast near Hamriyah (see our 1985 report, pp.27-35 and 40-42) where shell scatterings were very abundant as well as pottery sherds in many cases. In Hamriyah, a part of this pottery was very similar to Muweilah one and both are firmly dated to the Iron Age, in the 1st mill B.C. (fig. 7). This period is now better known throughout the Emirates (for example al-Ain, Wadi al-Qawr, , , al Qusais, etc).

Fifth Report 11 Concerning the type of occupation, we must underline the difference between Muweilah and the coastal area sites. Along the coast, the mounds are located near the sea, or better to say, near the shorelines of the ancient lagoons which have now turned into sabkhas. Moreover the diet was based upon marine resources, fish and shells, as evidenced by the thousands of shells laying on the surface, and constituting the main part of the archaeological layers. In Muwaileh, the shells are less numerous, loosely scattered on the surface and in the layers. The site is apparently located far from the sea and any ancient lagoons (about 10 km) and much higher than the sea level (fig 2). In this respect, the reasons which would explain the location of a settlement a Muwaileh are still to be found.

The Islamic Period Settlement: The main area is located about 500 m NE on the new roundabout, but loose scatters of sherds are visible in a very large area (fig.2). The archaeological remains are scattered over huge area extending from the present day village of Falah to Sharjah town Eastern limits, with a remarkable concentration in the depression west of the Iron Age area. The two modern graveyards confirm the human occupation of the site (fig.2). The reasons for setting here were apparently different at that time since almost no shells have been noticed on the surface. The provisional explanation is given by a falaj like system, a subterranean canal, which is running from south towards North, and starting from a point situated about 3 km from Muwaileh. Two soundings (3 x 10m and 2 x 10m) were carried out on two pottery concentrations (fig.8). They have not revealed any thickness of the archaeological deposits. Weput forward the hypothesis of camp sites, which does not exclude a permanent village near by, connected with the falaj system which has been recently given up. The originality of the Muwaileh archaeological area lies upon the presence of human occupation of two quite different periods, situated apparently far from the present sea, shore or the lagoon, shore, as well as far from the inland oasis, which could explain the settlement. The existence of a falaj like system, whatever its date is enhances the interest of the site and convinces us of the presence of sweet water resources in the earliest periods. As it is, Muwaileh area is worth of interest for the Heritage and it is certainly important to preserve it. Given the wide distribution of the artifacts on the one hand and the requirements of modernization on the other hand, it does not seem to us necessary to preserve the whole area, but to firmly preserve a part of it. According to our fieldwork, the most interesting part is the area located between the two modern graveyards (fig. 2).

12 Fifth Report This area, which is already plotted on the Municipality map has provided the highest concentration of artifacts pottery, stone vessels, weapons, stone tools (see fig. 7-9) and constitutes a very good example of the coastal settlements of the Gulf. To be complete such an archaeological zone might include also the falaj- like system. Together, the central part of the site and the falaj, close to the modern city of Sharjah would well illustrate an aspect of the traditional past of the Emirates. As conclusion, we firmly recommend the preservation of about one ha between the two modern graveyards and to the falaj, like system coming from the South to Muwaileh, which is probably connected with a period of important human occupation close to the coast.

Fifth Report 13 SURVEY IN THE SHARJAH TERRITORIES ALONG THE EAST COAST A SHORT NOTE

Remy Boucharlat

Eleven days have been devoted for surveying two of the Sharjah Territories along the east coast. and Khor-Fakkan Areas (Fig. 1). The area was put aside, because the Sharjah Territory is most covered by modern installations. First, the geographer and the malcologist (R.Dallongeville and A.Prieur) have studied the coast itself for understanding the evolution of the landscape of the seashore; the built up the map of the areas which were suitable for human settlement in the Past: soils, water resources, marine resources (fish and shells). Then, the geographer and the archaeologist (R.Boucharlat) paid new visits to these recorded areas, and extended the survey inland in the wadis valleys as well as on the slopes on the mountain range. This note only deals with some archaeological observations; the geographical and environmental observations will be described later.

Kalba Area: - Wadi Al-Fayah at Qotbah (SW of Kalba): cluster of circular dwellings builts of stones, with modern pottery. - Wadi Al-Afayah “the dry”: nothing recorded.

Khor Fakkan Area: - Qadfa’e North, North of the Sharjah - border, small rock carvings (mounted horses); 1 km further North at the bottom of a small outcrop a structure partly dug in the rock seems to have been recently excavated. Around it, a handful of Iron Age like pottery (black painted on red slip) has been collected (fig. 26:3). - Wadi Shi, above al-wathan, two cairn structures (Diam. approx. 8 and 10m). - Wadi Shi, new series of photos of the rock carvings.

14 Fifth Report - Upstream, below the modern dam, Al-Lawzah, a fortified village on an outcrop, which is almost surrounded by the Wadi bed. Tower, mosque, cistern and several houses (modern pottery). - Above the dam, a large settlement on both sides of the wadi bed, and in the corner constituted by the wadi Shi and its tributary, two small watch towers (modern pottery). This site is a well preserved example of a traditional village. - West of (SH 89 14): tower built of stones with a central pillar (modern pottery) and on a ridge going down eastwards, several oval structures (underground graves?) and a few graffity on a rock. - North of Khor Fakkan (SH 89 17 and 18): west of the saddle crossed by the modern road, very impressive fortified place, with a long wall apparently closing the north- south passage. Abundant pottery (some collected) of the last centuries before present. East of the road, at different levels, small towers without any visible sherds. - Luluyiah: cairn field distributed on several ridges. They seem to be clustered according to four groups called south, centre, north and north-west. The last two ones are the most interesting, since some of them are well preserved with a part of the flat roofing (large slabs, between 0.60 and 1m long). There are two types: the type 1 is simple: and oval shape, about 3.50m x 2.50m with an inner room, 2.50 x 0.80m. The type 2 is large and has an entrance, usually facing west, made of large stones piled up (fig. 26:1). The structure is very often a square with round corners, about 4m side, with an inner chamber measuring more than 2m x 0.80-90m at the bottom and more than 1m high. (fig. 26:2). Unfortunately, all of them seem to have been plundered or at least visited. Very few sherds, may be of Iron Age type, have been collected in front of one of them. Zubairah: on an outcrop, north of the modern village, three towers and several houses (modern pottery). There is no evidence of very old settlements or graves, apart from the cairn structures of uncertain date. We have paid special interest to the building materials (some of them coming from the seashore), to the numerous shells spread over the sites even in the piedmont, because they have been eaten and or used for various purposes. Concerning the pottery, the collecting was restricted to a minimum in order to not disturb the archaeological sites. Concerning the preservation, the only endangered sites are the ones situated at the foot of the hills near by present villages. When the Department of Culture wishes to know the limits of such sites, we can prepare precise maps of these areas.

Fifth Report 15 MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE INNER BASIN OF SHARJAH

Remi DALLONGEVILLE and Jacques BESANCON

In December 1988, the authors ended the morphological study of the inner basin of Sharjah (Dhaid-Mleiha- Filli). It is clear that in a globally arid surrounding, the studied area has know quite different climatic and hydrological conditions. The chronology kept being set. Unfortunately we do not have at our disposal anthropic clues, as we did not find any traces of Paleolithic settlements and the first human settlements are very late (probably from the Ubaid period). Neither do we have, up to now, palaeontological nor palynological data. We will then be satisfied with a draft relative chronology which however we could precise a few with the study of the littoral area. Especially between the Wadi Khadrah and Wadi Shawkah, we noticed traces of several staged glacis of erosion: they do not necessarily correspond each to a major phase, some levels of erosion could have be done during very short explanation phases breaking then a cutting period. In fact we have to take the chronology the other way round, from the area terraces observed on Wadi Dhaid. 1- The very low terrace is late: it could be from the Islamic period, without being possible to precise any further. 2- The low terrace is the only which for we have at out disposal absolute dating: the _ shells it contains have been dated from 9.470 + 170 BP. there we can recognize the humid phase from the upper Holocene well identified and date by McLure: west of Rub’e al-khali it would have lasted from 9.000 to 6.000 BP. (Gebel et al.) have also recognized it near al-Ain, as sediments from levels 8 and 2 of a sounding are dated (by the malacofauna) respectively from 9.700±90 BP and 6.930 ±75 BP. Our colleagues suggest the possible existence of a shallow lake *. As far as we are concerned, we think it could rather be an underground water- level linked with a spring. The low terrace of Wadi Dhaid shows indeed a quasi- permanent flow, without illustrating however a high humidity phase.

* Paper to appear in UAE Archaeology, vol. V. we thank the authors and Dr. W.Yasin, the Editor for putting the manuscript at our disposal.

16 Fifth Report 3- The high terrace, thick and rough, evidence a quite more torrential phase and then finally more humid. We still have not dating, but with reference to McLure’s observations in the Rub al-kahli which shows, between 30.000 and 20.000 BP, a more humid phase that the one stressed above, we think that the high terrace is situated within this period, that means during the isotopic state 2. The Wadi Dhaid is then quite good fed to carve its way through the dunes and to accumulate sediments, but it has a at these times, the same lie as today, northerly orientated as it is proved by the progressive reducing of the size of the terrace elements in this direction. According to the terraces and glacis relative chronology we have set above, it is at this time that the fundamental surface would be elaborates (III) to the prejudice to glaces IV. the earlier phase will reveal a quite different flowing system. 4- Then indeed the glacis called “level IV” elaborated itself. The morphology as the morphometry of pebble which cover the top of the glacis and the under-dune reg seem to show that the erosion glacis becomes downwards a thick alluvial accumulation which continues probably quite far under the Gulf waters. The functional piedmont then was quite large than today’s one, raising above 60 km and crossed by numerous strong and working wadis. The dunes fields did not exist. We will insist elsewhere on the datation of this complicated huge glacis, but we would propose willingly to date it from the last glacial phase (isotopic stage 4). Most recently we know that in Mediterranean sea and in the North near east (Syria and Lebanon), for example, it is the last but one ice age (Stage 6) and not the last one (stage 4-2), during which the most important glacis elaborated themselves and set the strongest underground alluvial water-level. But the Emirates lie in a very different climatic area and it is with the red sea coast (at the same latitude and with quite the same climate) that we must compare the western piedmont of Oman. however we know that it is during the last glacial phase that the main and very impressive glacis of the Sudan coast has been shaped: it has been indeed truncated by the coral constructions, well dated with Thorium/Uranium, from the last interglacial. If it is also the case on the western piedmont of Oman, the main phase of morphogenesis would be situated within the isotopic stage 4 and the settlement of the dunes would have occurred during the following dry phase. Later during the last glacial phase, the more abundant rains but of torrential type would have been less important and resulted in spreadings quite more moderate; they did not allow the Wadis to find their direct way towards the sea. We have thus carefully reconstructed the evolving of the Oman piedmont from the beginning of the last glacial period. We can not do it further in default of sufficient date. The staged erosion glacis in the eastern Dhaid plain allows us only to say that the

Fifth Report 17 quaternary has known several cycles of the same type as the one described above and seen following one another arid phases and less dry phases but more or less torrential, with the development of mixed huge glacis, then of dunes field and secondary aggradation phases and production terraces. The final version of our study will be done when we have received the results of the 14 C analysis in progress. A morphological map with a 1/50.000 scale will synthesize our observations.

18 Fifth Report RECONNAISSANCE AT P.28 (Mleiha North)

Otherwise named area I (fig. 10), P.28 was previously surveyed in 1985 bythe geographers and prehistorians. As a matter of fact, the surface of the low hill offer the surprising association of numerous lithic tools or flakes, Hellenistic potsherds, numerous pieces of shell; all of them are scattered on the slopes and around visible mud-bricks walls, similar to the buildings we already knew in main area I. One could put forward two main hypotheses: 1- There are at least two very different periods of settlement; the deflation and the moving of the dunes left both series of artifacts on the surface. 2- For some reasons, the Mleiha people made use of flint during the Hellenistic period for some purposes. We could not escape the dilemma; therefore we decided to test the mound mainly for evidencing a stratigraphy; we also hoped to find more actual lithic tools to be compared to the assemblages from the coast of Sharjah. The preliminary observations are presented here.

Fifth Report 19 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOUNDINGS

Marie Millet

P.28 is another designation for the area I of the Mleiha site (fig. 10-11). This denomination was given in 1986 during the survey on prehistoric sites which was conducted in the Inland Plain. A surface collecting of lithic artefacts was made then. Some bifacial pieces of small dimensions (3-5 cm long) were the most characteristic discoveries. Area I – P.28 is situated on a fixed dune, with trees growing on the top measuring about 50 m in diameter (fig. 11). On the surface, lithic implements are scattered in association with ceramic sherds, grind-stone, shells and blocks of limestone all around the dune. In various places the density of flints is quite remarquable. Actually, the survey revealed this year that the presence of lithic artefact concerns a much larger area, mainly on the West side of the road: East-West 600 m and North-South 250 m (fig 11). Among a total of 44 samples on the whole site of Mleiha, 17 provided flints (10 with only 1 or 2 items). The surface collecting concerns approximately 30 m². Per sample. On the opposite, P.28 shows the biggest among all the other areas: more than one piece per m2 . Area I ends up in a natural barrier of moving dunes in the South which makes the separation with area L, and in cultivations in the South-East. Some ferruginous blocks of stone and what seems to be metal slags have been seen here and there in that area. As the presence of lithic material seems anachronistic somehow in such a “ Hellenistic” context, five soundings were carried out in order to check of the same association would exist in stratigraphy. The first two soundings were make in North of the dune, in line n° 2 being 5 m distant from n°1, lower on the slope; n°3 at the bottom of the western slope and n°4 and n°5 on the southern side of the hillock (fig.11). The localisation of n°1 and n°2 depends on the topography, n°3 and n°4 placed on surface concentrations of lithic material, and n°5 was situated against the outer face of a Hellenistic wall. Soundings n°4 and n°5, both situated in the South of the mound provided the most interesting and complex stratigraphy (fig. 12). The five soundings gave the same main elements associated in stratigraphy: pottery

20 Fifth Report sherds, lithic industry, shells, bones and fish bones. (for the shells see A Prieur’s note below). In addition to that, one bronze sticker pin was found in the trench n° 2; two small fragments of a bronze sheet, one real pearl, a shell bead and a piece of iron were recovered from the upper level of the trench n°4. Concerning the lithic material, it appears that the percentage of tools and or retouched implementing stratigraphy. The only exception is the fragment of bifacial piece found in the upper part of the ashy layer in sounding n°4. As we mentioned before, the flint concentrations of sounding n°4 was really niticable (about 16m²) and also relatively rich of retouched material. The surface collecting and the sitting on 10 cm thick of one quarter of the concentration (4m²) provided 800 flakes and fragments and 12 bifacial pieces-all of them with transverse break- (fig. 13: 2-3), 2 heavy “drills” with two retouched edges and 1 trihedral drill (fig. 13: 8-9) the three are broken, one drill on a flake and two fragments of retouched flakes. On the surface of sounding n°2, 1 arrowhead retouched by pressure (fig. 13:5) -very similar to the ones from the coast (report 1988, fig. 8:1) and 1 fragment of retouched flake were found. The rest of the retouched pieces and tools was discovered during the survey. The list is as following: - Bifacial piece (broken most of the time) - Tanged arrowhead - Elongated projectile point with triangular cross section (1 fragment) - Retouched flake - Denticulated - Scraper on flake The bifacial pieces are the more numerous but are not tools stricto sensu. They are unfinished bifacial tools or outline. They represent different stages in the reduction sequence from initial piece of raw material to final product -folitates or projectile point- (Edens, 1988:p.19). This explains why they are broken most of the time: it is a common accident during the shaping of the tool (fig. 13: 1-6). The greatest part of the chipped flints lying on the surface have proportionally a bigger module than in stratigraphy. In the layers, the small flakes and fragments are more numerous. We insist on the presence of some very tiny retouch flakes and chips waste or fragments(1) in the layers and most especially deep in stratigraphy (soundings n°4 and n°5; fig.12). They

(1) Less than 0.5 x 0.5cm

Fifth Report 21 do not show any patina and are very well preserved. They indicate shaping activity. Two hypotheses can be put forward: 1) It could indicate that the covering happened very quickly after their deposit (meaning shaping activity on the spot) because their aspects is fresh. 2) But we must keep in mind that such small chips can also be transported by the wind and then be covered by the sand. It must also be noticed that there is no very small chip on the surface because such thin and tiny items do not last long when exposed to the wind: they are destroyed by the quartz grains impact. In any case (surface or stratigraphy) the fragmentation is very important for both retouched and unretouched material. For sounding n°4 for example, in the layer showing the micro-reg formation there are 43 flakes for 115 fragments (among which 101 are very small less than 0.5 x 0.5 cm). The fragments of the unretouched material represent 71% of the five soundings all together. Some lithic material was also found during the excavations of the area B, BV, C,F,K and L. except in K, the scarcity of flints (one artefact per stratigraphic al unit when it does occur) does not make this presence significant, even if they can be related to the same technological group (fig. 13:6-7). They must be considered as part of the filling. But K, situated not far from P.28, provided 81 flakes, 205 fragments, 4 small nucleus, 1 fragment of bifacial piece and 3 fragments of retouched flakes. It does give matter for serious thoughts about the originality of that sector. The raw materials aspect give also a good consistency to all of the findings. There is a diversity of varieties, origins and qualities. In the first place, what we can call “local flint” -found on the outcrops of the jabal Fayah for example- is the most numerous (sounding in P.28: 75%; excavations in Mleiha: 72%). This flint shows some important variations in texture and colors but the range is approximately light beige to brown. The next category is the very fine grained flint and chert (11% and 6%). There are some similar raw materials on the coastal sites (see reports 86 and 88) and most of the fine pressure retouched tools where made on such selected raw material of very good quality. A small proportion of brownish red “chert” from the piedmont of the Oman Mountains (Site 14) appears also in this list (2.15% and 3.4%). It also must be noticed that the quantity of burnt flints is relatively important: 11% and 17% of the two main categories. If we strictly consider the lithic industry, the date collected this year in area I-P.28 and

22 Fifth Report in the vast sector around gives some more evidence to establish the correlation between the piedmont of the Oman Mountains, the inland plain and the coastal area. On the one hand, there are the raw material sources and the evidence of the exploitation of the flint outcrops situated on the piedmont and all along the Jabal Faiyah, Mleiha and Buhays. On the other hand, there is the diversified lithic industry found on the coastal area which can be related to the natural resources exploitation of such and environment. Near the outcrops we find the remains of the first stage of the “chaine operatoire” with the tested blocks, some cores and flaking waste. Here takes place the selection of the blocks. Virtually there is no tool on these spots but it is not rare to see some rough outlines. The lithic assemblage belonging to the Mleiha sector sows the next steps of the technological procedure. The making of the outlines, from the initial blocks or flakes is done at a certain distance from the outcrops. As we mentioned, some finished tools can be associated with. Finally, it can be related to the assemblage found in the coast, where most of the tools have been discovered. The whole lithic production is essentially orientated towards the making of bifacial implements and of various tools on flake. So far, it appears that there is no technological break into the lithic tradition, and these three steps can be linked together. The connection between the various environments is reinforced. However there is no good reason for arguing about the possible relation of this industry with the Hellenistic occupation of Mleiha site.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

EDENS C. (1988), The Rub’e al-Khali ‘Neolithic’ revisited: the view from Nadqan in Araby the Blest. D.T. Potts (Ed). the Carsten Niebuhr Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies. University of Copenhagen. Museum Tusculanum Press.

Fifth Report 23 NOTES ON THE MALACOFAUNA

Abel Prieur

The study of Malacofauna from site P.28 (or I) focuses on two kinds of sampling: - One made in the surveyed excavation units - The other covers a surface of about 3000 m² Tables 1 and 2 gather the inventories of the different species for each kind of collecting. All species are most of the time represented by very tiny fragments of shells: from some millimeters up to 2 cm maximum, then the determination is often very difficult. Collecting in the Excavation Units: The inventory evidences 14 species of bivalves (of which 2 are very frequent: Marcia hiantin and Callista Erycina) and 17 species of gastropods (the most frequent is Terebralia palustris). This inventory is absolutely the same as those made on the Gulf coast within Hamriyah sector (Sharjah Emirate). However, Ostrea cucullata and Murex kuesterianus are quite less numerous in P.28. Surface collecting: 14 species of bivalves (the more frequent: Callista Erycina) and 19 species of gastropods, above all Terebralia palustris and Conus sp) have been identified. Comparison of these two kinds of collecting: Table 3 stresses the presence or the absence of the different species for each kind of collecting. The number of gastropods (27 species) in comparison with bivalves (18 species) could be explained by the relative fragility of the latter; the former supports quite better erosion and fragmentation. Remarks: The presence of sea shells in Mleiha involves necessarily a transport, then relation of the populations from the Gulf and Oman coast. This site is at about 70 km from the sea in both ways. We can suppose that such a distance depending on the itinerary represents from 3 to 6 days’ walk for people only, and 2 to 4 days for dromedaries caravan. Among Gastropods, we found and observed Lambis truncata only on the Oman coast which suggest relations with it. Shells were apparently collected for a diet purpose. A large number of bivalves may support a long emersion and then may be transported. After being collected or eaten, some shells may have been chosen in order to be cut out and transformed in jewellery or little tools in Mleiha, on the site. We did not find witness of this use in P.28 but destruction factors are numerous and it is no more possible to distinguish traces of use on the fragments.

24 Fifth Report EXCAVATIONS AT MLEIHA, THE THIRD SEASON

Michel MOUTON - Remy BOUCHARLAT - Paul GARCZYNSKI

The French archaeological team started work on the 26th of November 1988 and continued until the 10th of March 1989. The first weeks were devoted complete survey of the archaeological areas; the excavation started on January 21st. This team consisted of seven people under the responsibility of R. Boucharlat. They were: A. Benoist (archaeologist), H.David (archaeologist), M,Drieux (conservator), P.Garczynski (architect), F.De Keroualin (Archaeologist) and M.Mouton (archaeologist and field director). The programme of the third season of excavation at Mleiha had 4 purposes: 1- To complete the survey of the archaeological site, establishing its limits and trying to determine the areas that corresponded to different activities: habitation, crafts and necropoles. 2- To continue the study of the tombs area by finishing the excavation of the two operations that were already opened (C and F) and by testing another area. 3- To continue excavating the settlement area both in extension, in order to have an idea of the layout of the buildings, and in depth, to get a stratigraphic view as complete as possible. 4- To test the northern area of the site which seemed to us to be an area where craft activities were concentrated. At the end of the third season, we believe aims 1 and 2 have been attained. As regards to other two, we have now a better idea of what Mleiha can offer: - We are now able to propose a periodisation, based essentially upon the excavations and stratigraphy of L, and we have got a picture of the organisation in the site thanks to the survey sounding, and different excavations.

Periodisation and Settlement Pattern: For the first time, we are able to define an archaeological sequence, it is divided, provisionally, into three periods: - Early Period: whose main characteristic is the pottery. It is close to the Iron Age

Fifth Report 25 assemblage as it is known in the country. This period precedes all the known necropolis. Considering the Greek Pottery from the necropolis dates mainly from the 2nd C. Bc, this Early Period should be placed on the 3rd C (Cp, Cm, K), in the deep levels of L and near the necropolis C (A and B; probably the beginning of C). - Main Period. This is when the occupation of the site extended to its maximum and probably for the longest period of time, starting on the 2nd C, BC until the 1st C. Ad. To this period belong several habitation levels at L, installations whose characteristics seem to indicate craft activities areas to the North of L (E, BV, CI) and the areas where necropolis C and F are, Even if there is a chronological difference between these two necropolis, both are characterised, among other elements, by the presence of Greek amphorae. - Late Period represented by the upper levels of L and, here and there, by small structures in other areas to the East of the road (BD, BM, BO) and , at present, by one single tomb on the SE (AH) which is located in the same area as the most ancient necropolis. Several data (pottery, coins) indicate that this period must correspond to the major occupation of Ed-Door (1st C. AD onwards).

MLEIHA CHRONOLOGICAL DATA PERIODISATION ML. L: Glazed skyphos handle, 1st c, AD. LATE ML. AH: Blown glass vessels, 1st c, Ad PERIOD

ML. C & F: Alabaster/calcite vases, 3rd-2nd c. AD1 Moulded glass, 2nd-1st c. BC. Greek amphorae, 1st half 2nd c. BC2

ML. C: “Shams” inscription on a bronze bowl, MAIN 3rd-2nd c. BC3 PERIOD

ML. ?: South Arabic inscription on a large brick 2nd-1st c. BC3

ML. A & K: Pottery shapes of the Iron Age tradition, EARLY 3rd c. Bc. or earlier. PERIOD

1- Same vases in some cemeteries in Bahrain, pers. Com. Dr. J.-F.Salles, CNRS, Lyon. 2- Information kindly provided by Dr. Y. Calvet, CNRS, Lyon. 3- Dates kindly suggested by Dr, C. Robin, CNRS, Aix-en Provence.

26 Fifth Report The Survey (Fig. 10): The general survey of the area of Mleiha covered 4Km2 , corresponding to the area on whose surface objects of fragments were found in sufficient quantity to indicate an ancient occupation. The outlined limits of this area (Fig. 10) considered the limits of the archaeological site of Mleiha. The same method was employed, whether on the uncultivated land or on the farm grounds. In each area, a general survey was carried out, followed by the determination of a privileged area, chosen for the particular concentration of artifacts found on it (marked with letters on Fig, 10). In this special area, a sample was selected of about 3 m radius, i.e., about 30m2 (marked with figures on Fig. 10) from which all artifacts (pottery, metal and glass fragments, stone objects) were collected, as well as any raw materials that would not belong naturally to the site (shells, flint, exogenous stones). Forty four different were thus carefully sampled. The site, traversed by the Al Madam-Dhaid road, covers 2.5km E-W and 1.5 km N-S. The whole central part of the site is destroyed or covered by the cultivated land. The extension of the gardens threatens one of the best preserved parts. On the SE side, some remains seem well preserved, inside gardens that are abandoned nowadays. No structure is visible among the dunes on the NW side which is covered with artifacts and small stones. In that area, there is a total absence of pottery from the Late period and the pieces we could recover have shapes close to those from the Iron Age and to the material recovered from the deep levels of L. Similar material was found on sounding different areas of the site (L; A; .I; .C) which evidence a large occupation as early as that period. However, majority of the remains of the Mleiha site belong to the Main Period. A crafts area to the North of the site was excavated briefly (BV). concentrations of iron and copper slags confirm the crafts activities (CI; E) at different points of the site. During the Late Period, the habitation seems to be reduced to a few loosely scattered structures (areas L; BO; BM; BD). East and South the necropolis extend on the outskirts of the habitation areas. No tomb was found among the habitations areas of the Early and Main Periods. Only some recent installations to the south (BO; Ce ?) are mixed with the tombs.

Settlement areas: Area L.: The mound L on the west side og the road (Fig. 14), which we started excavating in 1988, shows several occupation levels down to about 3.5m deep. From the two previous excavations a long L- shaped trench connects the East Trench to the SE and the long West

Fifth Report 27 trench, which crosses over this mound from N to S (Fig. 14). On the whole, 600m2 have been excavated, but the deepest levels have only been reached through a few soundings. The stratigraphy presents the three occupation periods as mentioned above. Early Period: No structure was found at these levels, that have only been attained in reduced spaces at the bottom of the sounded strata. The red or black-slipped pottery is the most common; it has sometimes strikes of burnishing. Sherds of glazed pottery are very rare. The cooking pots are magnesite tempered. These levels yield numerous small stones. The pottery is similar to the material from K and A; it belongs to the Iron Age tradition. Main Period: This period requires a better definition, and most of the architectural levels of the sites belong to it. The red and black slipped pottery becomes less frequent, compared to other fabrics, the pottery at this level shows several well differentiated types : glazed pottery is more frequent and new types appear, such as the jars in thick black ware, or in chaff-tampered yellow ware, as well as the finer quality thin red ware which is sometimes painted; the sandy yellow were appears too, beside the sandy red which already existed in the Early Period. Late Period: This period is represented, with certainty, by an habitation at the top of mound. Its pottery is similar to that of the main occupation of Ed-Door. The classes that appeared in the Main Period are more abundant here (particularly the thick black ware and the chaff- tampered yellow ware), as well as the glazed ware on shapes that have been dated elsewhe to the I-II C. AD). Other Soundings: Besides the excavations of the mound L, soundings were carried out at different points of the site. At Area K, in the NW part of the site, two soundings of 5 x 5 m have yielded material belonging to the Early Period. The pottery shapes are very close to those from the Iron Age. The main characteristic of this area is the structure was found, but the surface was covered with a large amount of small stones, as in the Early Period levels of L. At Area I, on a mound that had already been surveyed by the UAE-Iraqi expedition, M. Millet carried out several soundings to study the flint industry which is found among the historical levels. The soundings revealed two architectural levels from the Main Period

28 Fifth Report (see Fig. 12), above deep ancient levels from the Early Period. At Area BV, 200m E-NE from area I, a short excavation (5x8 m) was carried out at a point which is situated on a track. The reason for this excavation was that many sherds of soft stone vessels were found there. A rather modest mudbrick structure contained the workshop of a soft stone vessels repairer (steatite, chlorite, calcite). Outside this workshop, on the surface, a large quantity of worked bones spreads on the NW side. These bones come from the neighbouring bone workshop. Such closeness of two activities supposes the existence of a crafts area which can be dated to the Main Period. The Necropolis: The 1989 season allowed us to finish the programme started in 1989 on the sites F and C. the excavation of tomb AH completes the information require for a comprehensive study of the Mleiha necropolis. Arae C: With the excavation of tomb 11, we reach an amount of five excavated monumental graves (n°5, 20, 21, 22 and 11); some smaller graves wit a mausoleum were already known in the Southern trench (Fig. 15). In order to know the excavation of the necropolis which we believed covering the Mound C (ca. 80 m in diameter) and the density of burials, we opened long trenches westwards and northwards. Our hypothesis of a limited graveyards has proved to be wrong, but the general result is quite interesting. On the whole, 17 new graves, all of them plundered, were partially excavated all along the trenches. At the end of the northern trench, which is 70m long, a low mound, much like the dozens of others that are spread all over the plain, covered the mudbrick mausoleum of a monumental tomb (AW). From the above we infer that there are not small cemeteries separated from each other, as we had supposed in 1988, but we believe instead that there was a vast necropolis area in which the monumental tombs were built, isolated or in groups. These would be the tombs of important people, that would have attracted the burial of common people, adults and children, in simpler graves. This organization is possibly discontinuous. The architecture and the building characteristics of the large tombs have already been described (Report 1988 : 50) and we do not have any more information on them (see however, Fig. 16:1-2). The small ones, which are often children graves, are not deep and

Fifth Report 29 are lined with mud brick laid on 3 or 4 courses on which rests (see Fig. 16:2) a network of the wooden battens that support the mud-bricks sealing off the graves (Graves 60, 61, 79). Some adults graves, without mausoleum, have the same characteristics (Graves 80, 90). Area F: At F, four close-set monumental tombs were completely excavated. To the east, a fifth grave, badly preserved, was left unexcavated (Fig. 17). Two types of building are evident: - 207 and 208 on west: the funerary chamber is cut in the marl layer and goes further on the northern side, with cut steps up to the surface. A covering of small beams and sticks supported a brick platform. The square mausoleum, built with stones and bricks, marks the place of the grave whose access was barred by a platform made of white hard bricks laid against the northern wall of the mausoleum (231, 232). - 204 and 205 : the funerary chamber and an antechamber that precedes it together form an H in plan (Fig. 17). On the north side, a narrow passage with roughly cut steps gives access down to the antechamber. This entrance is cut off completely outside the limits of the mausoleum (1.5 m in the case of 205). The ceiling of the funerary chambers, in wood (205) or in white hard brick (204) supports a brick platform which has a thickness of up to 0.80 m (in 205; Fig. 18). The mausoleum built in brick and stone rises above this platform. Against the northern face of 205 lies a white hard brick platform, similar to those of 207 and 208. Area AH: At (AH), on the South of the site inside a form, the opening of a 10x10 sounding brought to light a wide rectangular stone structure, a mausoleum, with plaster coating both outside and inside facing (Fig. 19). On the Northern side a door with stucco ornamental mouldings opens straight in line with steps that lead down to the funerary chamber. The latter is only partially cut in the marl; the stone facing, corbeling out at the top, must have supported covering slabs which have disappeared a result of plundering. The building plan and techniques used in the funerary chamber compare with those of some tombs at Ed- Door, as well as F.(207,208). Concerning the mausoleum, AH is the unique evidence of a empty building, in the other areas (C and F) we are still wondering whether the upper part was a solid masonry or not. Chronology: The material found in the tombs makes it possible to provide an hypothesis as the their chronological evolution : the central mausoleums in C (2nd. C.BC) are followed by the complex tombs in F with built-in-access (1st C.BC?) from which tom 369 of AH should be

30 Fifth Report derived. This tomb is of later type, judging by the presence of blown glass (Fig. 21: 1-4) and by some architectural features which compare with those of the tombs of Ed-Door. Funerary architecture: Several basic elements remain the same, notwithstanding the changes in the building techniques of the tombs. In the tree necroplis, the main orientation is the same: the access opens North, and on the North side the platforms (ritual? Offerings? Fig. 30:1) were built, where the libation vases were aid (205, 208; fig. 20:1 and 33:1) and all fireplaces (208), stepped battlements in white hard brick (40,5,11;Fig.30:2) or libation stones (369;Fig.34:1 and 35:1) were found. The white plaster coating and the white hard bricks seem to be a feature found exclusively in funerary architecture (ML-C,ML-F,ML-AH) and are not found in any habitation area. There is no proof of multiple burials in the same tomb, as no skelton was preserved. However, tomb 204 has been re-used: the mudbrick wall that seals-off its access lies on a filling of 0.40 m thickness which covers the floor of the antechamber. Also, since the access of the funerary chamber of 205 is displaced towards east to avoid being blocked by the ritual platform, it seems reasonable to assume that the builders had forseen an eventual re-opening of the tomb. Material: The material recovered this year is generally similar to the material described in the reports of the previous seasons. The differences already noticed between the material coming from the habitation areas and the items left over from the pillage of funerary offerings, are well marked in the new excavated sites and have allowed the identification of the type of occupation during survey.. The weapons recovered this year, especially at F, complete certain broken pieces and enlarge the bulk of the known types; besides, fragments of coat of mail or plaques from iron armors have been found in tomb 369 of AH. In bronze, a moulded woman’s bust was found in F (Fig. 23:1 and 41:1), and the lower part, that was lacking, of the male figurine has been found (F.22 and 35:2). The large amount of material recovered at BV, coming from the workshop of the stone vessel repairer and from the bone workshop (Fig. 21:6-8), is of great interest for the study of these two crafts. The pottery material, being studied at present, is plenty and varied, and has given us the data for the periodisation of the site. The Greek amphorae are a luxury item laid in the tombs (Fig. 20: 2-3 and 38:2). Such vases were found in C,F and on the surface all over the necropolis area; two stamped handles that were found this year bring to seven the total number of stamps or stamp fragments found in Mleiha. In glazed pottery there are several usual types of the Hellenistic and mainly Parthian, in the Near-East (1st C.BC): fish plates,

Fifth Report 31 pilgrims flasks, three-footed deep bowls (Fig.20:3-5 and 37:1), Mesopotamian amphorae, skyphos, some of the B1 ware types. Worth of remark is the presence of several bowls in sandy red ware, which are known in Eastern Arabia, namely at Thaj, in archaeological context corresponding to that of our Main Period; the same appliers to the head of a terra-cotta figurine of a style also known at Thaj (Fig. 21:5). On the other hand, the painted ware from the Main and Late Periods is similar to the one at Ed-Door and, besides that, it can be related to a South-Iranian tradition known in Kerman at Tepe Yahya, Level-IA. The Mleiha pottery assemblage is partly constituted by local traditions and contains also the products of the traditions that were spread over the Gulf, mainly on the Arabian side; the relationship to the culture of Central and Southern Arabia seems minor, at the moment, but it must be remembered that the pottery from those cultures is not very well known. However, other groups of objects are proof that such connection must have existed, i.e. the alabaster or limestone vessels (Fig. 36:1) and, probably, the bronze vessels and objects (Fig. 22-24 and 39-41). Concluding remarks: The results obtained this year give us the necessary information to better understand the organization of the ancient city; they enable us to make a sketch of periodisation, covering the five or six centuries during which Mleiha was inhabited, At present, the research priorities are the habitation and craft areas, the excavation programme concerning the necropolis being now finished. Mound L is of particular interest as it will allow us to the study the habitation lay-out and to improve the chronology of the site, from the end of the Iron Age to the first centuries AD.

32 Fifth Report MLEIHA 1989. RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION. A PRELIMINARY REPORT

Monique DRIEUX

In the course of the excavations at the sites of Mleiha, conservation and restoration treatments were performed over a period of two weeks.

Equipment: Space was satisfactory this year. The area totally isolated from the living areas is more suitable, because of toxic vapors and dust. Suitable equipment was brought along. The use of binocular lenses enable us to identify material compounds, corrosion products a well as degrees of alteration. Mechanical operations were increased with the help of a sophisticated handpiece. Acetone, alcohol and other chemicals could be bought at a chemical store in Sharjah. In situ removal: A burnt stump on L and wood samples on C have been removed to be analyzed. In situ consolidations were carried out on to take them whole. Solvents as acetone or alcohol could not be used, because of their high rate of evaporation and because of strong sunlight and high temperature on the sites. Acrylic resin (Primal WS24) diluted in water is more suitable and less toxic. The stump has been impregnated three times, then covered with plastified film to protect it when plaster bands were applied, as consolidant for transportation. The inner face was then cleaned and consolidated in the same manner.

Material treatments: In view of the observations made last year, operations were conducted in three directions: - Examination of all artefacts, - Restoration of some of the finds, - Storage for best preservation. Special care was given to iron objects and ceramics.

Fifth Report 33 Ferrous alloys objects: Last year, attention was paid to the copper alloys, because of their bad state of conservation. But most of metallic objects are in ferrous alloys: arrowheads, sometimes stuck together probably in a quiver, fragments of blades. Belonging to various shapes, the arrowheads are the subject of a typology. One would observe how important the deformations are, because of the oxidation. This year, ten arrowheads have been cleaned. As iron objects are totally mineralized, only mechanical cleaning is feasible. Differences occur between the original surface, even not metallic, and the corrosion products: The layers of the latter are more porous and impregnated with sandy concretions. Careful observation of there differences is the only way to determine where the original surface could be lie. It also consists in oxides, and must be protected, reinforced and straightened out with epoxy resin dyed with natural pigments (fig. 39:2-3). Arrowheads: m 40, 218, 268, 269, 324, 503, 532, 533, 953. Duration treatment for each arrowhead : 4 hours (plus 20 hours for drying). One should observe that the arrowheads are severely corroded, but have not been really deformed by corrosion : shapes are roughly the same after cleaning, but are more legible. One should notice that X-ray could be another mean to observe shapes under corrosion, without cleaning. Copper alloys: Two copper alloys objects have been restored : a double ring (m 750), and a cylinder (m 876). Sandy concretions were removed on m 750 with handpiece, and copper carbonates were extracted by chemical action (immersion ind EDTA 5% in demineralized water, which have a specific action on copper carbonates, without destruction of the patina). No active corrosion appeared after 20 hours in a humid chamber. The double ring, on which decoration of central part has been revealed, was then burnished, degreased in acetone, dried in alcohol and protected (one layer of incralac). Duration treatment : 5 hours. Test in humid chamber : 20 hours. Protection and drying : 6 hours. On the contrary, the layer of corrosion products (oxides and carbonates) scalpel and

34 Fifth Report with the help of binocular lenses. No active corrosion appears, and the operations of rinsing and protection were the same as for m 750. Duration treatment: Cleaning: 7 hours. Test : 20 hours. Protection and drying : 6 hours. Ceramics: Four ceramics have been restored : an amphora, a bowl, a jug and a jar. The jug (Fig. 38:1), the bowl and the amphora (Fig. 20:3 and 38:2) are uncomplete. Joining fragments has been performed with cellulosic glue (UHU yellow); after removing traces of foreign material and degreasing with acetone. Parts of the bodies were missing. Some areas, in order to have the shape complete, have been filled with a plaster reinforced with epoxy (gap filter). Those areas should be dyed with adequate natural pigments. Duration: - Repairing and gluing : 1 to 4 hours (4 for the bowl) - Restoring of gaps : 2 to 6 hours. The jar was removed from the site in fragmentary but complete shap. Difficulties occurred because of its high (84 cm) and because of the poor state of conservation of the paste (Fig. 20:7 and 33:2). As it crumbly, no hard adhesive could be used. Fragments have been jointed together with acrylic glue, and joints have been reinforced inside the bottom with gap filler dyed with natural pigments. Nothing has been found inside the jar. Duration treatment : 20 hours (about). Glasses: Fragments of glass vessels are discovered mostly in bad conservation state. Superficial layers are severely corroded, generally brittle. Consolidation was performed by immersion in a solution of an acrylic resin (Paraloid B72 5 to 10% in alcohol). Attention has to be paid for storage the fragments against impacts. Storage: Copper alloys objects were put into airtight boxes with an adequate quantity of silica gel, in order to maintain the atmosphere dry.

Fifth Report 35 Iron objects were put in same boxes, without silica-gel because all are totally mineralized, and so on stable. The jar was maintained with sand, but it has to be supported in a mount specially shaped. Note: The uncomplete bronze bowl bound in 1988 has been treated and restored in France; it shows a rich decoration (Fig. 24:2 and 40). In 1989, some metallic objects, in copper alloy, iron and silver alloy, were brought to France, where electrochemical processes of conservation and restoration treatment are currently underway in EDF, Research Direction, Saint Denis (Fig. 23 and 40).

36 Fifth Report

Fig. 1- Map of the Oman Peninsula showing the three surveyed areas near Sharjah town. Mleiha al-Madam area, and the Sharjah Territories along the East Coast.

38 Fifth Report Cont. Fig. 1- Map of the Oman Peninsula showing the three surveyed areas near Sharjah town.

Fifth Report 39 Fig. 2- Muwaileh near Sharjah Airport. Detail of the central part of the archaeological area and the location of the three soundings (Iron Age). Inset, the location of the site South of the Sharjah Airport (from the Sharjah Municipality maps 1: 2000 no. 83 and 1: 25000 no. 34-80 and 24-78).

40 Fifth Report Fig. 3- A softstone barrel shaped vessel and its lid (Iron Age) which were accidentally found at Muwaileh in 1988.

Fifth Report 41 Fig. 4- Three jars from the Modern period accidentally found at Muwaileh in the late 1988. 1/ red buff with white surface; 2/ black gritty reddish ware; 3/ Green glazed buff ware.

42 Fifth Report Fig. 5- Muwaileh: archaeological sections in sounding 1 and 3

Fifth Report 43 Fig. 6- Muwaileh, sounding 3/ plan of the Iron Age level with the heaps of hardened sand blocks, may be used for a encampment.

44 Fifth Report Fig. 7- Muwaileh: Diagnostic pottery shapes of the Iron Age: 1&4/ Black, slipped ware; 2-3, 5-6/ Red, slipped buff ware; 7,9-10/ Black paint on red, slipped buff ware; 8/ Black paint on plain buff pink ware; 11-12, 14-15/ Black, slipped red ware; 13&17/ Red - slipped orange ware; 16&18/ Purple or red - slipped thick buff ware with chaff temper.

Fifth Report 45 Fig. 8- Muwaileh: Pottery from the Islamic Modern settlement. 1-2 & 4/ Gritty brown ware; 3/ Red ware with blackish Surface; 5 Gritty brown ware, red painted; 6/ Gritty brown ware, blackish surface; 7/ Green glazed yellow buff ware; 8/ Blue glazed yellow buff ware; 9/ Black grey ware.

46 Fifth Report Fig. 9- Muwaileh: Small objects and stone tools, 1,2&6 (Iron Age settlement). 2-5 (Islamic settlement).

Fifth Report 47 Fig. 10- Maleiha: Map of the archaeological site after the 1989 survey. The letters correspond to the “sites”: Any area with a significant concentration of the artifacts (mainly potsherds, metal pieces, bricks, worked stones or exogenous items (shell stones).

48 Fifth Report Cont.: Fig. 10- Maleiha: Map of the archaeological site after the 1989

Fifth Report 49 Fig. 11 - Mleiha Area P.28 (Area I) which is scattered with flint artifacts. The black dots correspond to the soundings and the hatching to the areas surveyed for the shell sampling.

50 Fifth Report Fig. 12 - Mleiha Area P.28: Archaeological sections in Sounding (4) Sounding 5/ They show the mixture of the Hellenistic sherds and flint artifacts in the upper levels and the sole presence of flints in the deepest levels.

Fifth Report 51 Fig. 13 - Mleiha, selected flints from various areas. Bifacial pieces: 1/ (survey .28),P 2-4/ (sounding 4). Projectile points: 5/ (P.28, sounding 2, surface), 6/ (Area L). retouched flake: 7/ (area BV). Trihedral drill : 8/ (P.28, sounding 4, surface). Heavy drill : 9, (P.28, sounding 4, surface).

52 Fifth Report Paul garczynskl – Architecte Desa- C.N.R.S - CRA valbonne Architecte Desa- C.N.R.S - CRA – Paul garczynskl

Fig. 14 - Mleiha: General plan of the settlement, Area L, with the structures dating from the 1st cent. BC to the early centuries AD.

Fifth Report 53 Paul garczynskl – Architecte Desa- C.N.R.S - CRA valbonne

Fig. 15 - Mleiha: General plan of graves in Area C, showing the extend of the graves from the central part of the mound, and the link with another monumental tomb to the North.

54 Fifth Report Fasse crevs

nombrevses ompreinies de beis

bd briques dures Jaints Gravier macne

Fig. 16 - Mleiha, Area C: Plans and architectural sections across 1/ A monumental tomb (N°11) and 2/a small grave (N°61).

Fifth Report 55 C.N.R.S - CRA valbonne C.N.R.S - CRA Paul garczynskl – Architecte Desa- – Paul garczynskl

Fig. 17 - Mleiha, Area F: General plan of the four excavated tombs.

56 Fifth Report Paul garczynskl – Architecte Desa- C.N.R.S - CRA valbonne

Fig. 18 - Mleiha Area F: Architectural section across Tomb 205.

Fifth Report 57 Fig. 19 - Mleiha, Area AH: Plan and architectural section across Tomb 369.

58 Fifth Report Fig. 20 - Mleiha, selected pottery: 1/ libation vase (Tomb 208, site F); 2/ Greek amphora handle with a South Arabic letter (Area BQ, survey); 3/ Greek amphora from three different graves (Area F); 4-6/ Three footed glazed bowls (Area L); 7/ Storage jar (Tomb 204, Area F)..

Fifth Report 59 Fig. 21- Mleiha, selected small finds: 1-4/ Glass fragments from tomb 369 (AreaAH); 5/ Terracotta figurine (Area L); 6-8/ Bone spoons (Area BV).

60 Fifth Report Fig. 22 - Mleiha, bronze figurine accidentally found in a farm (Area G).

Fifth Report 61 Fig. 23 - Mleiha, selected metal objects recently restored in France (by M. Drieux in Lab. of Electricite de France, Direction des Etudes et Recherches): 1, Bronze female bust (Area F); 2/ Bronze horse-shaped spout, decorated with gold sheets (Area C); 3/ Bronze bowl fragment (Area C).

62 Fifth Report Fig. 24 - Mleiha: Restored bronze bowls from the Necropolis C (no. 1) and F (no. 2).

Fifth Report 63 (1)

(2)

Fig. 25 - Muwailah, South of Sharjah Airport, an Iron Age and Late Islamic site: 1/ The landscape; 2/ A complete barrel- shaped softstone vessel and its lid (Iron Age), found in 1988.

64 Fifth Report (1)

(2)

(3)

Fig. 26 - Khor Fakkan Area (Sharjah Emirate). 1-2/ Two examples of well-preserved cairn tomb West of Luluyiah; 3/ Black-on-red slipped pottery found North of Qadfa’e.

Fifth Report 65 (1)

(2)

Fig. 27 - Mleiha, Area L: 1/ General view of the settlement towards West; foreground the East Area and the L-shaped Trench connecting it with the main mound; 2/ Two successive floors inside a small building with potteries and stone tools (Mleiha Main Period 1st cent. BC-AD).

66 Fifth Report (1)

(2)

Fig. 28 - Mleiha, Area L: 1/ The L-shaped Trench (foreground) and the East Area, at the limit of the cultivation; 2/ The long part of the L-shaped Trench towards the mian mound.

Fifth Report 67 (1)

(2)

Fig. 29 - Mleiha, Area BV: 1/ Small softstone workshop; 2/ Selected examples of bones objects manufactured near-by.

68 Fifth Report (1)

(2)

Fig. 30 - Mleiha, Area C (a graveyard): 1/ North wall of Tomb 5, with a platform and five small stepped merlons, made of white brick; 2/ North wall of Tomb 40 with a three-stepped merlon.

Fifth Report 69 (1)

(2)

(3)

Fig. 31 - Mleiha, Area C: 1/ and 2/ Large Tombs 11 and 94 showing the inner filling of mud-bricks covering the funeral chamber; 3/ A small pit grave (no. 61) which was covered by two rows of mud-bricks.

70 Fifth Report (1)

(2)

Fig. 32 - Mleiha, Area F (a graveyard): 1/ General view of the four excavated graves, with an access on the North side; the two graves on the left side have one chamber; the two ones on the right have two; 2/ A close view of Tomb 205; above the two connected rooms, the mud-brick covering is partly preserved.

Fifth Report 71 (1)

(2)

Fig. 33 - Mleiha, complete potteries from Area F: 1/ Two small pierced jugs found at the NE corner of Tomb 208 and 205; 2/ Storage jar found on the upper floor of Tomb 204.

72 Fifth Report (1)

(2)

Fig. 34 - Mleiha, Area AH: 1/ A unique example of stone-built tomb (no 369) of the beginning of the Christian era. Both the cist-grave and the enclosure have an access to the North; note the libation stone; 2/ A detail of the stepped access to the grave.

Fifth Report 73 (1)

(2)

Fig. 35 - Mleiha. 1/ Pierced libation stone found in the entrance of Tomb 369; 2/ An almost complete bronze figurine found in a farm (Area G); the lower part has been treated.

74 Fifth Report (1)

(2)

Fig. 36 - Mleiha: 1/ Selection on alabaster and calcite vessels and lids; they are funeral offerings; 2/ Small male head worked out in mother-of-pearl (max. L. 1.3 cm).

Fifth Report 75 (1)

(2)

Fig. 37 - Mleiha, Area L, distinctive pottery of the Main Period at Mleiha (1st cent. BC/AD): 1/ A so-called Thaj bowl; 2/ Pieces of three-footed deep bowls, with a green or gold glaze; 3/ Complete glazed bowl, with an horizontal rib and fluted decoration.

76 Fifth Report (1)

(2)

Fig. 38 - Mleiha, two incomplete vases partly restored: 1/ Jug with an incised symbol on the body (on the left). Made of dark grey/black burnished ware; 2/ Greek amphora.

Fifth Report 77 (1)

(2)

(3)

Fig. 39 - Mleiha, a selection of cleaned or restored metal objects: 1/ Six bronze/silver coins of the Ed-Door type, found in 1988; 2/ Small silver coin from Area L (Main Period); 3/ Selection of iron arrowheads (some restored) arranged into five typological classes; 4/ The five classes illustrated by restored arrowheads.

78 Fifth Report (1)

(2)

Fig. 40 - Mleiha, a bronze bowl found in 1988, carefully restored in France (by M. Drieux): The outer circles shows animals, monsters and palm trees; in the inner circle, crawling people; in the center, a star-like figure.

Fifth Report 79 (1)

(2)

(3)

Fig. 41 - Mleiha, metal objects restored in France (by M. Drieux in Lab. EDF, Direction de la Recherche, St Denis): 1/ Bronze female bust (Area F), originally stuck on a vase or an altar (?); 2/ Horse-shaped spout (?) found in 1986 (Area F); The silver/bronze body is partly covered with gold sheets; 3/ Fragment of a bronze bowl (Area C) with engraved decoration, a griffin and a line of quadrupeds.

80 Fifth Report Terebralia palustris Strombus decorus persicu Polinices tumidus Planaxis sulcatus Phasianella variegata Sppondylus sp Solen sp. Pinctada margaritifera Chlamys ruchenbergeri Unit of excavation Marcia hiantina Glycymeris lividus Gastropodes indet. Turbo coronatus Species Cerithium sp. Bythinia sp. Babylonia spirata Gastropods Trachycardium sp. Burnt fragments Bivalves indet. Pinctada sp. Ostrea cucullata Indeterminables Anadara sp Bivalves Cypraea sp. Cronia konkanensis Conus sp. Dentalium sp. Callista erycina Barbaria fusca Murex kuesterianus Cypraea cf turdus cuttlefish bone crab claw Chama sp. Oliva bulbosa Neverita didyma Nerita sp. E459 UF412 1E, 5F 12F 60F 12F 1E 7F 3F 1F 1F 1F 3F 3F 3F 2F 1F 1F E459 UF412 70F 11F 1E 1E 1E 1E 1F 8F 3F 7F 8F 3F 1F 1F 1F 2F 1F 1F 1F E470 UF419 1F 3F 1F 1F 1F 5F 1F Table (1): Species distribution in the different excavation levels E447 UF417 1F 2F 1F 1F E473 UF427 4F E420 UF401 1F 1F E436 UF408 3F E465 UF422 2F 1F 9F 4F E451 UF418 3F 1F 2F 5F 2F E444 UF415 8F 1F 2F 3F E441 UF414 2F 2F 2F

E439 UF407 19F 1F 9F 1F E421 UF402 2F 1F 1F 1F E474 UF411 15F 14F 34F 1F 1F 1F 7F 1F 2F 3F 2F 3F E429 UF405 24F 1E 1F 1F 3F 1F 1F E431 UF404 26F 3E 1E 3F 1F 3F E426 UF403 22F 1F 5F 1F 1F 1F 1F 1F 5F

Fifth Report 81 Table (2): Distribution of raees for Surface Collection

BAG 1 BAG 2 BAG 3 BAG 4 BAG 5 Bivalves Pinctada sp. 3 F 3 F Ostrea cucullata 5 F 5 F 10 F Marcia hiantina 3 F Callista erycina 3 F 21 F 21 F 19 F 13 F Anadara sp. 2 F 5 F 7 F Chlamys ruschenbergerii 2 F 1 F Mactra sp. 1 F 1 F Circe callipygia 1 F Glycymeris maskatensis 1 E Venus verrucosa 2 F 2 F Anadara ehrenbergeri 1F+2E Chama pacifica 1 F Cardiidae 1 F Glycymeris lividus 1 F

Gastropods Pyrene testudinaria 1 E Dolium sp. 1 F Murex kuesterianus 1 F 2 F Oliva bulbosa 2 F 2F+2E 1 E Terebralia palustris 2 F 9 F 8 F 10 F Conus sp. 2 F 5 F 3 F 3 F 1 E Cypraea sp. 4 F 1F+3E 3 F ? Fasciolaria sp. 10 F Cronia konkanensis 1 E Cerithidea cingulata 1 F Nerita adenensis 1 E Mitra aurantia subruppeli 1 F Polinices tumidus 1 E Strombus decorus persicus 3 F 3F+1E Lambis truncata 2 F Turritella cochlea 1 F Turbo coronatus 1 opercule Conus textile 1 F Polinices sp. 1 E indet. 7 F 14 F 58 F 13 F 37 F

82 Fifth Report Trachycardium sp. Spondylus sp. Solen sp. Pinctada margaritifera Pinctada sp. Ostrea cucullata Marcia hiantina Mactra sp. Glycymeris maskatensis Glycymeris lividus Circe callipyga Chlamys ruschenbergeri Chama sp. Cardiidae Callista erycina Barbatia fusca Anadara ehrenbergeri Anadara sp. Bivalve X X X X X X X X X X X X X Excavations Table (3): Summary Table of area animals O O O O O O O O O O O O surface Turritella cochlea Turbo coronatus Terebralia palustris Strombus decorus persicus Pyrene testudinaria Polinices tumidus Polinices sp. Planaxis sulcatus Phasinella variegata Oliva bulbosa Neverita didyma Nerita adenensis Nerita sp. Murex kuesterianus Mitra aurantia subruppeli Lambis truncata ? Fasciolaria sp. Dolium sp. Cypraea cf tudus Cypraea sp. Cronia konkanensis Conus textile. Conus sp. Cerithium sp. Cerithidea cingulata Bithynia sp. Babylonia spirata Gastropods X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Excavations O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O Surface

Fifth Report 83