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Durham E-Theses A House Complex in Bronze Age Arabia: A Study of 'Umm an-Nar' and 'Wadi Suq' Domestic Architecture at the Settlement Slope, Bat (Oman) KERR, ALEXANDER,DAVID,ROSS How to cite: KERR, ALEXANDER,DAVID,ROSS (2016) A House Complex in Bronze Age Arabia: A Study of 'Umm an-Nar' and 'Wadi Suq' Domestic Architecture at the Settlement Slope, Bat (Oman), Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/11730/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 A House Complex in Bronze Age Arabia: A Study of ‘Umm an-Nar’ and ‘Wadi Suq’ Domestic Architecture at the Settlement Slope, Bat (Oman) Alexander David Ross Kerr MA Archaeology Durham University Department of Archaeology January 2016 Abstract In comparison with the well-documented funerary and monumental archaeology, remarkably few settlement sites have been excavated that can be dated to the Umm an-Nar (c. 2700 - 2000 BC), Wadi Suq (c. 2000 - 1600 BC) and Late Bronze Age (c. 1600 - 1250 BC) periods in southeast Arabia. Consequently, domestic architecture from this region is often studied in chronological isolation. A multi-period analysis of the nature of settlement sites and their domestic structures is key to understanding how these cultures functioned and developed during these periods. A complex of domestic structures was discovered at the Settlement Slope in 2013, situated within the Bronze Age archaeological site at Bat in Oman. The aim of this dissertation is to present and analyse the architecture of this single, well-preserved settlement site from the Umm an-Nar, Wadi Suq and Late Bronze Age periods. To this end, a catalogue of domestic structures from published Umm an-Nar and Wadi Suq sites was assembled, identifying architectural trends typical of these periods. The stratigraphy and construction style of the walls from the Settlement Slope were analysed and, from this, a provisional sequence of construction phases could be proposed for the site. The sequence was compared with the domestic structures attested at contemporary settlement sites to i establish whether the architectural development of the Settlement Slope is typical of the Umm an-Nar, Wadi Suq and Late Bronze Age periods. The aims and objectives of this dissertation are fully met. This research represents an original study of a 3rd and 2nd millennium BC domestic site in southeast Arabia. It presents architectural data that increases our understanding of how a settlement site changed through three contrasting cultural periods. It is hoped that this research will encourage further discussion regarding domestic archaeology from the Umm an-Nar, Wadi Suq and Late Bronze Age periods. ii Acknowledgements This dissertation could not have been completed without the support and assistance of many individuals. Particular thanks must be extended to my supervisors at Durham University, Dr Ben Roberts and, in particular, Dr Derek Kennet, whose invaluable guidance and support has been hugely appreciated throughout my year of study. I am also extremely grateful for his help in providing accommodation and travel arrangements during my most recent visit to Oman. Thanks must also be extended to Durham University’s Prof. Chris Scarre and Prof. Paul Pettitt for the feedback I received during my postgraduate review panel. Special thanks goes to Dr. Christian Velde, resident archaeologist of the Museum of Ra’s al- Khaimah, UAE, for his invaluable advice and sharing his thoughts regarding my ceramic data. Thanks must also go to Mr Michel de Vreez, a research postgraduate at Durham University, for his generous and detailed assistance in the identification of my Wadi Suq pottery types. I especially wish to thank the American-Japanese Bat Archaeological Project (AJBAP) team in Bat for the kind generosity and hospitality offered during my time there. Dr Chris Thornton, University of Pennsylvania, welcomed me as part of his team from the start and was kind enough in permitting me to study the Settlement Slope site and analyse its data. Chris has taken time out from his busy schedule to provide me with the necessary excavation documents and photographs, for which I am thankful. Thanks must also go to both Dr Yasuhisa Kondo, University of Tokyo, and Dr Charlotte Marie Cable, University of New England, for iii providing accommodation, organising travel arrangements and making me feel at home at Bat. Finally, I wish to thank the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Oman, for providing the necessary equipment in the field and for arranging the accommodation in Bat and in Muscat. Their kind hospitality left me feeling most welcome in their country. iv List of Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……. i Acknowledgements………………………………………………………….……………………………………... iii List of Contents……………………………………………………….……............................................... v List of Illustrations………………………………………………….…………......................................... ix Introduction……………………………………………………………....………………………………………….... 1 Chapter 1 - The Literature Review…………………………………......………………………………... 16 Part I: The ‘Umm an-Nar’ Culture ........................................................................ 16 Tombs……………………………………………………………..……………………………………….. 16 Ceramics…………………………………………………………………………………………………... 20 Trade………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 24 Settlements……………………………………………………………………………..………………. 26 The Nature of Umm an-Nar Society……………………………………………………….… 32 The Collapse of Umm an-Nar Society……………………………………………………..… 36 Part II: The ‘Wadi Suq’ Culture………………………………………………………………………….. 40 Tombs……………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 40 Ceramics…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 44 Trade………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 45 Settlement………………………………………………………………………………………………... 47 The Nature of Wadi Suq Society………………………………………………………………... 51 Chapter 2 - The Site at Bat…...............................................……………..……………………... 56 Introduction…………………………………………………….……………………………………………..… 56 The Geography.......................…………………………………………...…………………………….. 56 The Archaeology of Bat: ……........................………………………………......................... 61 v The Round Towers …........................................................................................ 62 The Tombs ....................................................................................................... 66 The Settlement Slope ...................................................................................... 70 Chapter 3 – The Architectural Data......................................................................... 72 Part I – The 'Settlement Slope' ................................................................................ 73 Introduction …................................................................................................. 73 Methodology …................................................................................................ 75 Terminology …................................................................................................. 77 The Wall ‘Types’: ..........................................................................,…............... 80 Type 1a……………………………………..……………………………………………………….. 82 Type 1b…………………………………………………...…………………………………………. 90 Type 2………………………………………...……………………………………………………... 93 Type 3…………………………………………………….………………………………………..... 99 Type 4………………………………………………….…………………………………………... 110 Type 5……………………………………………….……………………………………………... 112 Part II – The Umm an-Nar and Wadi Suq Domestic Sites ..................................... 119 Introduction ................................................................................................. 119 The Domestic Sites: ……………………………..…………………………………………………. 123 Hili 8………………………………………….……….…………………………………………….. 121 Umm an-Nar Island..……………………………………………………………………….… 129 Ghanadha Island………..…………………………………………………………………….. 135 al Ghoryeen…..……………………………………………………............................... 138 Bisya….………………………………………….………………………………………………..… 140 Ra’s al-Jinz (RJ2) …................................................................................. 141 Tell Abraq………….…………………………….……………………………………………….. 151 Kalba…....……………………………………….…………………………………………………. 149 SWY-3…….…………………………………….………………………………………………….. 151 Maysar….……………………………………….……………………………………………….… 153 Bidya…………………………………………….………………………………………………..… 156 Asimah……....…………………………………………………………………………………….. 158 vi Nud Ziba…………………………………………………………………………………………... 160 Tawi Said………………………………………………………………………………………….. 162 Ra’s al-Jinz (RJ1) ...……………….……………...……..……...............................… 162 Khor Fakkan........................................................................................... 167 Shimal ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 169 Part III – Analysis & Discussion............................................................................