YEMEN: Archaeological Activities in the Yemen Arab Republic, 1985 Source: East and West, Vol. 35, No. 4 (December 1985), pp. 337-395 Published by: Istituto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente (IsIAO) Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/29756745 Accessed: 06-05-2019 17:48 UTC

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This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms ARCHAEOLOGICAL MISSIONS

YEMEN

Archaeological Activities in the Yemen Arab Republic, 1985

The third (1985) campaign of archaeo? Dr Bruno Marcolongo for geomorphology and logical cooperation between Italy and the Dr Adolfo Gianni for ethnoarchaeology. The Yemen Arab Republic took place in north students Sabina Antonini, Bruno Castiello, Yemen from 4 July to 17 December 1985. Michael Jung, Marina Marini and Marina Under the coordination of the 'Centro di Serapioni also helped with the digging and Cooperazione Archeologica I talo-Yemeni ta* recording of finds. Ms Beate Terfloth col? (I talo-Yemenite Centre for Archaeological laborated in the graphic representation of Cooperation) of San'?' in collaboration with objects found. the Organization for Antiquities and Li? The following officials of the local An? braries under the direction of q?di Ismail tiquities Department followed the various al-Akwa', work was carried out by the stages of survey and excavation and took following Italian experts sent by the De? part in the work: al'lzzl Muhammad Muslih, partment for Cooperation and Development 'Abd ar-Raz?q Na'm?n as-Sargabi, 'Utm?n al of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Halifah, Ism?'il al-KibsI, Ahmad Sams?n, Professor Alessandro de Maigret, programme Sayf Hussayn Mas'ad, Muhammad al-Halabi, director, for the pre-Islamic period; Professor 'Abd al-Karim al-Kibsi, Yahyah. Francesco Fedele for the neolithic period; The San'a' Centre for Cooperation and Professor Maurizio Tosi for the proto the main sites were visited, chronological in historical period; Professor Umberto Scer order, by Professor Gherardo Gnoli, Presi? rato, Professor Giovanna Ventrone and Pro? dent of IsMEO (17-30 October); the Minister fessor Paolo Cuneo for the Islamic period; for Foreign Affairs of the Y.A.R., Dr 'Abd Dr Grazia Maria Bulgarelli for the paleolithic al-Karim al-Iry?nl (18 November) and the period; Dr Francesco Di Mario for the lithic Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs industry; Dr Lorenzo Costantini for paleo of the Italian Republic, the Hon. Bruno botany; Dr Vincenzo Francaviglia for min? Corti (13-15 December), who took the eralogy; Dr Alberto Palmieri for sedi opportunity of finalizing the agreement for mentology; the architects Vincenzo Labianca archaeological cooperation for the remaining and Edoardo Gatti for architectural survey; years of the programme. the surveyor Mario Mascellani for topography m% The main results obtained by the Italian Ms Patricia Smith for drawings; Mr Antonio group were illustrated at an exhibition/ Solazzi for the photographs. Assistance was congress held on 30 October at the San'?* also provided by the following consultants: Sheraton Hotel, which was organized by 337

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms the Italian Embassy and the Organization Di Mario, Dr Vincenzo Francaviglia, the for Antiquities of the Y.A.R. The address representative from the Antiquities Depart? on 'Activities and Discoveries of the Italian ment 'Utm?n al-Halifah and the author Archaeological Mission: years of cooperation conducted the survey. The aim of the trip 1983-85', introduced by q?dl Ism?'il al was to study the way the patterns of ancient Akwa4 and Professor Gherardo Gnoli, was settlements varied in relation to changes in given by Professor Alessandro de Maigret, the environment, and to ascertain the extent and contributions were also made by Pro? of Sabaean occupation along the upper and fessors Maurizio Tosi and Francesco Fedele. middle course of the W?di Danah. From 1-7 December a RAI-Radiotelevisio The region of eastern Hawlan (Bani ne Italiana team paid a visit to film the Daby?n) is mountainous and almost inac? Centre and the most important antiquities cessible, and the road we took to cross it discovered by the Mission. is one of the few, possibly the only one, In the light of the findings made during that can be covered with relative ease. the year's activity, and considering the cul? Turning south from the San'?'-Gih?nah tural unity prevailing in southern Arabia Sirw?h road, a few kilometres before the during the south Arabian classical period, village of Bani Sulayh (al-A'r?s) (fig. 1), the campaign concluded with contacts with one enters the W?di al-'Atfah, to leave it the authorities of Yemen (People's Demo? on the left after about 15 Km. The route cratic Republic of Yemen) in order eventually proceeds southwest along the W?di Kunam to conduct surveys in this country as well. as far as the W?di Hab?bid, not far from On the invitation of the local Antiquities the village of Qalil. The road then follows Department, Professor A. de Maigret, who the W?di Hab?bid to the point at which on this occasion joined the Italian Delegation it crosses the W?di 'Ar?diq, coming from of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs led by the Hon. Bruno Corti on an official the direction of the village of Husn Masmal which lies to the west. The road then leaves visit to Democratic Yemen, visited Aden from 17-20 December. Subsequent to talks the W?di Hab?bid to enter the W?di Baw, with the local Director-General of the which stretches due southeast. The recently Yemenite Centre for Cultural and Archaeo? built but nonetheless difficult road then logical Research, Mr 'Abdallah Muhayriz, traverses a series of precipitous mountain and the Director General of Antiquities and passes from the W?di Baw basin to the Museums, Dr 'Abdallah Bawazir, we found W?di Nab'?h basin further south, not far the Democratic Yemen authorities perfectly from the village of S?m. At this point the agreeable to establishing contact with the road becomes comparatively easy to follow, IsMEO Archaeological Mission and, in par? keeping to the river valleys as far as Marib. ticular, to promoting a specific research plan for the following year. Beyond the confluence of the W?di As regards the Yemen Arab Republic Sarriayn (from the south) (fig. 2) and of (north Yemen), the following is a sector the W?di Hab?bid (from the north), we by sector outline of the main scientific come out into the W?di Sab?' (or Danah) activities carried out during the season. at the point where the W?di Rah?bah joins it from the south. Following the W?di Sab?', northwards from this point, a change 1. Exploration of the Bant Daby?n Region is observed in the scenery: we are in the physiographical area of the so-called 'medium a. The Survey altitudes', and the temperature, pedology, A survey was carried out in the unex? geomorphology and vegetation contrast sharply plored region occupied by the Bam Daby?n with the 'eastern plateaux' scenery lying tribe from 22-26 July 1985. Dr Francesco behind us in the west. This ecological 338

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ Fig. 1 - Map showing sites belonging to the pre-Islamic period visited by the Italian Archaeological Mission during the 1985 campaign.

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 2 - The W?di Sarriayn at its confluence with the W?di Nab'?h.

difference is matched by apparently striking the W?di 'Atfah (the site of Al-Misw?h) differences in the ancient settlements. (fig. 3). A similar case had occurred in As far as we were able to see, in fact, 1981 when a survey further north of A'r?s the protohistorical Bronze Age settlements, led us along the W?di Hab?b towards so widespread in the A'r?s and Al-Had?\ Sirw?h and M?rib; once we had passed the do not occur in this lower area. Instead, village of Al-Watadah, no more remnants the typical squared-stone ruins of the Sabaean of lithic industry were to be found. period begin to appear, standing out here Following the stretch of the W?di Sab?' and there and then clustering on the slopes running from the W?di Nab'?h to the W?di of the vast W?di Sab?' valley. Sirwab, we were able to explore only two The change in archaeological fades seems sites. However, systematic surveys of the quite abrupt, as if in the past the unbroken lateral valleys of the w?di may well show Bani Daby?n mountain range had constituted far more concentrated settlement. In fact, an obstacle to the spread of the two cul? in a valley to the left of the W?di Sab?', tures in diametrically opposed directions. a few kilometres to the north of the point In the lower-lying parts the last protohis? where it crosses the W?di Nab'?h, we torical flints and obsidians were found along found a sort of fortress set high on two 340

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spurs at the sides of a widi (Wadi Rahab), site that must have been used for dwellings known by the name of Musna' ar-Rahab rather than for defence. It is called (fig. 4). We had no time to collect surface Al-Markdbah and is relatively large (c. samples, but both the construction technique 250 X 70 m.). Given the thick clustering and the type of inscriptions engraved at of ruins, even on the slopes of the island, the bases of the rock spurs place the complex the settlement must have been very con in the Sabaean period. centrated (fig. 6). It is for the time being Another example of a defensive construc hard to fix the period in which this small tion was a small fortress we visited called town flourished, partly because, when the Al-Qasr (fig. 5). It stands on a peak on elevated parts, which must have been made the left side of the WAdi Sabi' 5 km. north of earth, fell down, they buried the pottery of the Widi Nab'ih confluence. There are deep amidst the stone foundations of the many examples of such fortified places, houses. dotted along the course of the wadi like At the level of the Wadi Qawqah which look-outs. joins the Wldi Danah on the right about Further to the north of the Wi Danah 30 km. from M5rib, we left the road in bed, in a raised position around which the the main wadi to explore the region stretching w,idi forks for a short stretch, there is a north of the Cabal as-Sahl. Following a track

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This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 4 - The Musn?'t ar-Rahab.

Fig. 5 - The ruins of Al-Qasr in the W?di Sab?'.

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms ^^^^

Fig. 6 - View of the ruins at Al-Mark?bah.

Fig. 7 - Si'b al-'Aql: a Sabaean Villa.

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This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms along the W?di Qawqah we found many complete and important Sabaean archaeo? important Sabaean ruins in the area be? logical units discovered up to the present tween the track and the W?di Yal?. It time. After a first visit (25-26 July), two is worth describing these in some detail. surveys were performed in the site (5-10 August and 2-5 September) to complete the b. The Sabaean Antiquities archaeological (A. de Maigret, F. Di Mario, in the W?di Yal? Area S. Antonini, M. Marini), architectural (V. Labianca, E. Gatti, M. Mascellani, P. Smith) The Sabaean antiquities in the W?di Yal? and geomorphological studies (B. Marcolon area are situated within the territory of go, A. Palmieri, V. Francaviglia). 'Utm?n al the ?l-T?hir, a subtribe of the Bani Daby?n, Halifah and Al-'Izzi Muhammad Muslih about 35 km. southwest of M?rib. They are participated in the scientific work for the concentrated along two short right tributaries Y.A.R. Antiquities Organization. of the W?di Danah: the W?di Yal? and the The site consists of three distinct groups W?di Qawqah. We are sure that we will of structures (Si'b al-'Aql, Al-Gafnah and not be contradicted when we state that the Yal?/iAd-Durayb) interrelated by a common site is, after that of M?rib, one of the most hydrological factor (fig. 8). In fact, all the

Fig. 9 - View of Si'b al-'Aql looking northeast.

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This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 10 - Si'b al-'Aql: rupestriat

antiquities situated along the courses of the ascending about 300 m, of the very charming W?di Qawqah and the W?dl Yal? seem to si'b, where frequent pools embellish the exploit the same water source, flowing down extraordinary landscape of oddly shaped pink from the highest mountain of the region: rocks (fig. 9), we reach a natural pool the Gabal as-Sahl (or ?abal Mur?d). isolated in the middle of a widening of The first group of structures, which is the w?di. Some steps carved out of the also the most elevated, is set in the granite basin sides, two squared post-holes cut into rocks of the Si'b al-'Aql (W?di Qawqah). the edge, as well as a platform at the level Near the entrance to the gorge we found an of. the water's edge, show its ancient use interesting small Sabaean villa with a monu? as a bathing pool. Its importance in ancient mental staircase and three complete windows times is indicated by numerous Sabaean in the facade (fig. 7). The squared stones inscriptions engraved on flat vertical rocks of the construction are simply hewn, but surrounding the ablution pool to the north are joined with great accuracy, and the house and south (fig. 10). Dr Mutahar aUry?ni stands complete up to its roof level. After and Professor Giovanni Garbini are now 346

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 4;0"

iscriptions of the Sabaean period.

studying the 28 new inscriptions from the pre-Islamic tomb at the northern edge of site, which refer to a ritual hunt practised the terrace, and fragments of a limestone here by the two mukarribs Yt?mr Byn and basin found near the central building, as Krb'l Wtr. well as the impressive view to be enjoyed Going up a flight of stairs to the south from this point, lead us to assume a sacred of the inscriptions, we reach an artificial or ritual function for the complex. earthen platform set up on the rock, sup? Our geologist Dr Bruno Marcolongo noted ported by a round terracing wall. In the that before the beginning of the Pleistocene middle of this elevated place are the ruins period the final part of the W?dl Danah of a curious structure that stood on three had a more southerly course than today. thick parallel walls of different lengths (fig. Before tectonic activity forced it into its 11). Two isolated houses, situated nearby, present hydrographic pattern, the W?dl are reached by means of paved paths with Danah flowed in the area of our sites, stairs, beginning at the southern and eastern making use of the big fault which today sides of the platform. The presence of a lodges the W?dl Qawqah river bed. The 347

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms ancient Sabaeans noticed the wide delta at that time. Thus, with the exception of a plain of sediment left by the palaeo-Danah, building set up along the control wall, which and with their exceptional hydraulic skills was probably a guard-house, we can guess they succeeded in exploiting it for agricultural that these Sabaean houses were farms. Some purposes. are quite large and articulated (fig. 13). The site of Al-Gafnah is found on sedi? Wide, enclosed threshing floors and store? mentary deposits and the structures we rooms support this assertion. surveyed had been conceived to exploit them. About 300 m. west of the Al-Gafnah com? A stone dam was constructed on the W?dl plex we discovered, resting on the mountain? Qawqah in 'order to collect the rich source ous flank of the W?dl Qawqah, and protected of water flowing from the Si'b al-'Aql, thus from sight by a rocky spur, a wide rec? preventing its loss westward to its natural tangular fortified area. Reutilized in the rocky river bed, and conveying it for irrigation early Islamic period, the stronghold was first to the sediment lying to the east. The conceived in the Sabaean period. Evidence remains of the dam are still clearly visible for this is provided by seven short inscriptions (fig. 12). It was not necessary to build a engraved in the rocks near the western gate. very strong structure because the Sabaeans Moreover there are architectural features chose to locate the dam where the water similar to the Al-Gafnah structures. The flow was less violent, that is, along the complex must have been devised probably watershed between the hydrographic basins to lodge a garrison against attacks from the of the W?dl Qawqah and the W?dl Yal?. A west along the W?dl Qawqah, the only long constraining wall was constructed to access from the W?dl Danah to the Sabaean extend the functions of the dam north? sites in question. ward along the delicate line of the watershed. After irrigating the fields of Al-Gafnah, To the south the dam stood on the the water of the W?dl Qawqah followed corner of a wide quadrangular area bounded the Danah palaeo-river bed joining that of by finely constructed walls. Among the the W?dl Yal? after about 2 km. In this numerous ruins we were able to identify way it increased' its flow, which is relatively some partition walls inside the major lighter than that of the W?dl Qawqah (as squared area. In particular we noticed a can be observed at the present time); and more elevated rectangular structure, limited this was enough to supply the large ancient by the rocks at its southern end. A gate city known today as Yal?/Ad-Durayb. at a right angle gave access to this intricate The Sabaean centre consists of a walled structure whose function is difficult to city of a subcircular shape (fig. 14), with a hypothesize at present. A flight of stairs maximum diameter of 230 m. The stone outside the gate led down to the pond walls have a regularly buttressed course created by the dam. This fact strengthens (4.5 m. for the buttresses, 4 m. for the the connection between the structural unit recesses). At about 2.5 m. from its base the and some of the activities carried on in wall, which is 1.8 m. thick, shows an interior the Al-Gafnah according to the specific horizontal plan, which reduces the thickness hydraulic arrangement of the region. of the structure at this point to about We found about 20 Sabaean houses in 60 cm. Assuming this thinner wall to have the Al-Gafnah area. These houses are not been conceived to protect a standing man grouped together in a true village but are within, we can reconstruct a total elevation spaced out and scattered over the rocks at of about 4.5 m. for the wall of Yal?. the foot of the mountains flanking the The wall enceinte, well preserved at its sedimentary basin. This particular distribution northern and eastern sides, is partially indicates a settlement pattern suited to the destroyed to the south and to the west agricultural exploitation of the various fields by the recent excavation of a water channel 348

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 11 - Si'b al-'Aql: central structure of the sanctuary.

Fig. 12 - Al-Gafnah: northeast end of the dam.

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 13 - Al-Gafnah: farm.

Fig. 14 - Yal?/Ad-Durayb: view of the town from the east.

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms to irrigate the fields of a small modern may possibly be contemporary with the Al village to the north of the ruin. 'Aql antiquities. The main city gate was situated to the The possibility of making some chrono? northeast, where the two parallel rectangular logical distinction within the Yal? archaeo? towers recall the entrance system of Bar?qis. logical complex is very important in order On the western flank of the city a slope to begin a more detailed study of this is formed by large blocks running parallel archaic Sabaean period, that of the first to the walls, leading to a secondary passage, three mukarribs of Saba. perhaps of a later period. However, the significance of our discoveries The architectural techniques do not differ in the W?dl Yal? concerns not only the from those of the other Sabaean structures possibility of establishing historical/archaeo? seen at Al-'Aql and Al-Gafnah: the yellowish logical correlations, but also provides an roughlyhewn granite blocks are accurately opportunity to study the ancient Sabaean set up in successive levelled rows. A square civilization from a socio-economic point of tower 8 m. high and a rectangular enclosure view. As we have already mentioned, the wall, situated against the northern city wall, antiquities of Yal? are distributed over are of a later period (possibly Islamic) three different physiographic points, which suggested by the dissimilarity of its structures are connected by the same hydrological factor. and by the inscribed Sabaean blocks inserted The water begins to flow in a very charming in the walls. deep gorge (Si'b al-'Aql) and here we find, as the inscriptions and the structures indicate, The most interesting feature of the complex is the interior ruin that leaves the northern activities related to the ritual-ludic sphere (ritual hunting). Where the water slows part of the city free. The ruin is particularly high, and a section of it, visible on the down and opens into a wide sedimentary plain (Al-Gafnah), we find hydraulic devices southwestern side of the city, shows its (dams) and the agricultural means (farms) to anthropic origin. The black granite on the perform primary economic activities. Finally, surface contrasts with the yellowish granite where the water flows freely in its river? of the city wall. bed, the true dwelling centre flourished, It seems clear that the city was originally and the decision-making activities took place. smaller before the fortified walls encircled The overall picture is not different from it, protecting, among others, some structures that which can be observed today in similar (a temple?) that were noted in the north? western sector. The considerable thickness piedmont landscapes, for example in Europe, where plains, piedmont areas and mountains of the interior ruin and the stratigraphy contain cities, electric plants and touristic visible in the southwestern section, both activities, respectively. Perhaps the com? suggesting a succession of occupations, indi? parison is somewhat bold, but it serves to cate the importance of a future excavation indicate the importance of the archaeological of the inner city itself. An inscription found arguments for the study of the Sabaean set into a small modern house to the north society and to point out the line of research near the Islamic structures, refers to the to be followed for the in-depth analysis of construction of fortifications (the city walls?) this new archaeological complex. by Yt?mr and Yd"l. The latter is not Alessandro de Maigret mentioned in the rock inscriptions of Al 'Aql, where we found only Krb'l Wtr and c. Morphology and Sedimentary Deposits Yt"mr Byn. The epigraphic study has not in the Yal? Area yet been completed but this observation seems to confirm that the city walls are later During the September '85 exploratory than the interior ruin and to suggest they mission particular attention was paid to the

351

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms analysis of morphological and sedimento for conducting research with excavation were, logical evidence in the final stretch of the on the one hand, the need to find out why Danah and its basin slope. Our aim was various dwelling units were aggregated at to reconstruct the paleohydrography, the Ar-Raqlah and, on the other, to obtain new paleoclimatic conditions and the use to which stratigraphic and chronological data on this the land around the city of Yal? was put new protohistorical Yemenite culture. in ancient times. We distinguished at least Excavation concentrated on buildings in three levels of terracing and a stratigraphic the second quarter to the west of the site sequence in the recent quaternary deposits (cf. the map in EW, 34, 1-3, 1984, fig. 5), that can be correlated with similar situations where an entire dwelling 'compound' (fig. in other parts of the basin (W?di Tayylah, 16) was unearthed. A large semi-circular W?di Nagid al-Abyad, W?di Hab?bid). area, enclosed by unsquared stone blocks, The preliminary results of field observations contains within the southern part a series are summarized in a geomorphologkal photo of subrectangular rooms with beaten earth explanatory map of the Yal? region, drawn floors and central pillars, bounded to the on the original scale of 1:62,500 (fig. 15). north by a spacious courtyard. Smaller It can be deduced from the map that the rooms used for storage and manufacture W?di Danah once (presumably before 10,000 of products were set up against the houses, B.P.) flowed southeast, its waters dispersing of which there remain rows of granite blocks over the extensive alluvial valley southwest that served as bases for the walls. Doors of Marib bordering on Rub* al-H?lL Sub? of which only the sills and hinges now sequently, as a result of considerable tectonic remain led from one room to the next and movements, the Danah created an epigenetic then into the open yard where activities valley for itself further north. This valley involving the entire dwelling unit were lies along the course still followed by the performed. A stone fireplace and large mill? Danah today. The W?dl Qawqah and the stones for cereals provide evidence of such W?di Yal?, on the other hand, continued activities (fig. 17). flowing east until, after prolonged neo In the northern part of the 'compound', tectonic activity, they too changed their which must have been left free to begin course, cutting through the Sabaean defensive with, a series of rooms was subsequently structures (6th-5th century B.C.) before set up against the surrounding wall. In fact, flowing back northeast into the W?di Danah. stratigraphic examination reveals two levels Bruno Marcolongo and Alberto Palmieri in the structure, and the two layers can be clearly made out in a small courtyard to the south where a silos was set on top of 2. Excavation of the 'Ar-Raqlah' Bronze-Age Site an earlier fireplace. C14 analysis of coals found in this fireplace and of fragments of Excavation of the protohistorical site of burnt wood from one of the rooms built Ar-Raqlah (Al-A'r?s, Hawl?n at-Tiy?l) was into the northern yard at a later date gives carried out from 17-21 August and 14-19 the dates of 2150 and 1850 B.C. respectively, September. The ancient settlement lies north thus proving that building took place in of the W?di Yan?'im, in the vicinity of the two phases and showing the minimum length village of Alasaf. The structures and surface of settlement. pottery recall the typologies of the Al One of the larger structures unearthed in Masannah (MASI) and Yan?'im (WYI) sites the southwest area is particularly interesting: excavated over the last few years, while it is a house that stands out not only because its relatively large scale (c. 90 X 40 m.) of its size, but also because of the careful places the site among the integrated pluri way the foundation stones were chosen and modular Bronze-Age settlements. The reasons set; moreover, there is a stone ledge around 352

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms M. A.i.R.A.y. 15"2 5'N 85^65 ? G e o morphologi cal P hoto interpretation "ft area (Mc\'r/b -North /emenj m N /

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Fig. 15 - Geomorphological map of the Yal? region.

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms AR-RAQLAH (RAQi) - sector 2 ISOMETRICAL VIEW OF UNIT A scale hzs

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MA1RAY 85 - A- 17 ? " ' g f

Fig. 16 - Axonometrie relief of the structures unearthed on the Ar-Raqla site.

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms the entire circumference of the room, an squared stones recycled for building in the annex dug into the rock to the south, and nearby village of Waraqah (c. 1 km. east) two doors giving access to both the inner attests to the decline and former importance courtyard and to outside the compound of the ancient Himyarite centre. Study of (fig. 18). These features set this house apart the three monument inscriptions incorporated from any of the others, suggesting that it in the houses at Waraqah and the rupestrian might have had a public function (assembly graffiti, together with perhaps earlier designs hall?). This is probably the first evidence of animals and men in the basalt reliefs to of the community life for which we were the north of the village (Gabal Gah? al looking for signs before the excavation Harb) and south of Har?bat al-Ahgur (Al began. The point will be worth demon? H?gib) may in the future yield more precise strating as it should help us understand the historical data on settlement in the area. social or economic patterns that led to steady transition from the simple, single-family agricultural type of community to a more b. The Hypogean Tomb of Waraqah complex form, with various activities and Work consequently concentrated on sys? social nuclei taking on a more integrated tematic excavation of the KAHi tomb. pattern. Access to the underground sepulchre, con? Excavation yielded a large quantity of sisting of a circular chamber of over 5 m. pottery, and the attribution of typologies to in diameter roofed with a shallow cupola two different stratigraphic contexts should (c. 1.5 m. high), is by means of a narrow give us the chance to see how this new rectangular pit leading into the tomb at the Yemenite vase repertory developed as time went on. bottom (fig. 19). Three squared monoliths which have since been removed by the Alessandro de Maigret inhabitants of Waraqah once framed the entrance to the chamber. Three false win? dows were carved into the inner walls of 3. Himyarite Antiquities in the Bam?r Region tufa; a long cist, starting from the door, a. The Antiquities at Har?bat al-Ahgur brings the lower level of the hypogeum down by c. 70 cm. to a level of -2.8 m. In late October some farm-workers belowin the level of the ploughed fields. the village of Waraqah, 10 Km. east of Most of the articles in the grave-goods Dam?r, discovered a large hypogean tomb (about thirty earthenware vases, bronze and of the Himyarite period. The Antiquities silver jewellery, glass unguentary jars, iron Organization called in the Italian Mission weapons, silver coins and an alabaster statu? which, between 3 and 11 November, setette of a bull) were scattered over the floor; about excavating the tomb and making thea pottery was for the most part along partial survey of the area in collaboration the walls and near the entrance (fig. 20). with the Yemenite archaeologists. The gradual collapse of tufa from the walls The tomb belongs to a necropolis dug and ceiling, which had become so thin at into the tufa and pumice originating from the topmost part of the vault as to touch Hayd al-Lisi, situated immediately to the the pumice layer above, had completely east of a large ruin called Har?bat al-Ahgur. covered the contents of the tomb and the The site, which is oblong in shape (c.bodies. Excavations have revealed the pres? 70 X 150 m.) and has a north-south orien? ence of at least two adult specimens whose tation, does not appear to be isolated. Other incomplete skeletons have survived. The first less extensive ruins can in fact be seen toon be found lay sideways across the central the two nearby plains to the northwest and grave which had been filled with earth, southeast. The extraordinary amount andof the other was buried in the cist, the

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This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 17 - Ar-Raqla: mill? stone for cereals in the L6 courtyard.

Fig. 18 - View of the excavation from northeast; the 'assembly hair (L12) is in the upper central part.

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms MME.i^'it **--^B**-r . ^tf^MBFReject i*^

Fig. 19 - Kharabat al-Ahg?r: the KAHi, T I Fig. 20 - Kharabat al-Ahg?r: the KAHi, T I tomb. tomb, pottery in situ on the floor.

crushed skull at the head of the grave op? from the Dam?r region ('As?m, San?zib, etc.). posite the entrance. Apart from a silver A few years ago some hypogean tombs were bracelet beside it, there was no sign of any unearthed in a quarry not far from the other bones belonging to the body. Three village of Sarhah (10 km. west of Yarim); or four children were also buried in the tomb, excavations conducted by R. Wade on behalf alongside the north and south walls. The disorder in which articles and bones were of the Antiquities Organization in 1982 found suggests that the tomb had been revealed structures unparalleled in Yemen. violated in ancient times. The coins bearing Today, thanks to excavation of this first the inscription 'Raydan', together with the tomb at Har?bat al-Ahgur, we know how pottery and glass objects, suggest that the important funeral rites were in the Himyarite complex dates back to the 1st century A.D. period. There is increasing evidence that (figs. 21-22). they were performed throughout the southern Recent unauthorized excavations have Yemenite plateau, and a new research area must from now on take its place in pre brought to light more tombs of this type Islamic south Arabian archaeology. in the surroundings of Har?bat al-Ahgur. There is urgent need for an exploratory c. The W?stah and Ad-Dar 'ah Dams survey of the whole necropolis, and the Italian Mission expects to carry out a Following the suggestion of the represen? complete survey in the coming year with the tative for Antiquities, q?di Has?n al-Haydarl, help of modern geophysical technology, to we visited, while in the same area to the be followed by a second, more intensive east of Dam?r, an ancient dam not far from excavation campaign. Moreover, methodical the village of AI-W?stah, south of the Dam?r action of this sort is absolutely necessary Al-Bayd?' road. Designed to halt the flow since reconstruction work performed after of the W?di S?mah, the dam is situated the earthquake has brought increasingly c. 500 m. north of the village of AI-W?stah. numerous reports on chamber^burial finds It served to form a narrow but deep reservoir

357

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Fig. 21 - Limestone bullock from the KAHi, T I tomb.

Fig. 22 - Pottery in the KAHi, T I tomb at Kharabat al-Ahg?r.

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms for the irrigation of the fertile valley bottom of Ad-Dar'ah, lying 5 km. south of a small stretching north as far as the modern village centre, Al-Kawlah, on the Dam?r-Al-Bayd?' of S?mah as-Suflah. Of the great squared road. These are twin dams, in that they blocks forming the dam only the southern stand across two parallel widi?n between part remains, set against the western slope which lies the village of Ad-Dar'ah, and they of the valley (fig. 23). lead the waters to the fertile plain stretching The section, c. 16 m. thick at the base, north. The western dam (As-Sudd) (fig 25) tapers towards the top, since the elevation is particularly impressive, although only the comes down in large steps on the down? eastern half remains; it stands at a height stream side (fig. 24). There must once have of c. 19 m. and measures about 17 m. at been a lock set in a sort of narrow tunnel the base. It is built of large blocks with

Fig. 23 - The Wastah dam. Fig. 24 - The Wastah dam: section view.

crossing the base of the dam transversally. plastering on the surface; the upper wall The eastern end of the barrage, which has has five 3-m.-high steps, and a cross-section not survived, must have been set up against reveals two walls with a hollow space of a tall spur of rock standing in the middle c. 2 m. wide between them. An avant of the small valley. Traces of a second corps, four-sided in plan (c. 4 m. each lock can be seen between this spur and the side) set against the two lowest steps on eastern side of the gorge. A small fortified the outer wall must have housed the locks, construction tops the central spur and is as is shown by the three water-intakes, one likely to have served for keeping watch above the other, opening upstream. Con? over the whole hydraulic plant. duction structures can be seen downstream We were kindly invited by the muhafaz of the dam, separated in accordance with of Dam?r, Yahyah Muslih, to visit two more the different levels of water in the reservoir ancient dams situated not far from the village selected by drawing on the intakes at their 359

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms ' ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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Fig. 25 - The As-Sudd dam at Ad-Dar'ah.

various heights. We were not able to visit graphical context. This situation makes their the second, smaller dam on the w?di running cultural and chronological attribution less east of Ad-Dar'ah. easy and certain. The geological survey carried out in 1984 Alessandro de Maigret showed that ancient quaternary deposits had been completely eroded because of the geomorphology of the region in the Hawl?n 4. Research on Pleistocene and Palaeolithic area. However, in the Ma*bar region they sites lie under more recent thick alluvial sediments During the research carried out in 1983 (loess and silt). and 1984 on the presence of Palaeolithic For this reason our research has moved in the Yemen Arab Republic (north Yemen) to another geomorphologically different region several sites with industries typologically on the piedmont side of Tih?mah, where it related to Middle Palaeolithic have been was likely that Pleistocene-related formations identified in the Hawl?n region (AkMasannah, along the thalweg of more important and Hammat Gawl an-Numayri, Gabal al-Huma large wtdi?n would be identified. ymah), while a site with Acheulean industry Thanks to the collaboration of the General has been found in the Dam?r plain not far Organization for Antiquities and Libraries from Ma'bar (Dayq Q?' Gahr?n). it has been possible to realize the proposed Although all these discoveries prove programme ? a survey in the piedmont area interesting, lithic tools have been gathered of the Tih?mah plain from Hudaydah to on the surface, out of their original strati Hays. 360

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 27 W?dl Rim?'. Levels of Quaternary formation to about 400 m. above sea level.

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Going from north to south the thalweg W?di Surd?d the Pleistocene-related con? of W?di Surd?d, W?di Rim?', W?di Zabid glomerate (cobbles and strongly cemented and W?di Zurawah were explored from the gravel) has been cut by the w?di that later road cutting across the Tih?mah plain to transported and deposed more recent sand the gabal. deposits. Deposits related to different phases of In the upper part of the conglomerate, Pleistocene are visible in all these widi?n pebbles and flakes were found to have been to neights of between 400 and 150 m. above used, immediately under the erosion surface sea level. (fig. 26). In general they are made up of cobbles W?di Rim?': 500 m. downstream of the and strongly consolidated gravel. They rep? dam, under Misrafah village, the quaternary resent the colluvium transported by the formation is composed of a succession of same w?di, that is present in the middle levels. In the section four levels are visible height band of the Tih?mah. (from the bottom): 1) conglomerate; 2) sand Often these conglomeratic formations and silt; 3) consolidated conglomerate; appear in several levels of terraces of various 4) sand and silt. widths, whose sections are visible along A large flake 'has been gathered in the many hundreds of metres. deposit between the third and the fourth During the survey, several lithic tools levels (fig. 27). were found inside the quaternary deposits, W?di Zabid: to about 300 m. above sea thus in stratigraphical context. levels in the interior plain terraced quaternary W?di Surd?d: to about 400 m. above deposits are present, composed of conglomer? sea level, where W?di Masdar flows into ate (fig. 28).

Fig. 28 - W?di Zabid. Conglomerate formation to about 300 m. above sea level. 362

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms A chopper has been found near one of the 1mpianti camp on the northern outskirts sand levels in the formation in the visible of the town. section of the third and highest terrace. Coastal uplifting and alluvial sedimentation The survey to the piedmont side of have combined to cause a rapid build-up Tih?mah enabled us to observe carefully the of the coast at aLMuh? and to the south. quaternary formations mapped by the geol? Sabhah formations extend for an average ogist B. Marcolongo. of 1.5 km. from the actual shoreline, with In addition it was possible to collect points of 3 km. in the Hawr az-Zay?di. Sites abundant geological data and information, and buildings of the XVII-XVIII century, that would form the basis for archaeo? Muh?'s gold age, have been located 1.5 logical research on the palaeolithic sites 2 km. to the interior, at the edge of the the following year. active sabh?h, suggesting massive deposition. Although the palaeolithic tools found are A mean to seriate chronologically coastal very few, several analogies with the quat? variability is provided by shell-middens, ernary formations of Northern Afar (F. Barbe archaeological sites formed predominantly of ri et al., 'Geology of Northern Afar (Ethio? discharged molluscs, gathered as foodstuff. pia)', Revue de geographie physique et de Apart from informing us about an ecological geologic dynamique, 15, 1973, f. 4, pp. cultural pattern, they ensure a source of 433-90), where lithic industries of Lower organic material for radiocarbon dating. The and Middle Palaeolithic have been found, main aim of our short reconnaissance was allow us to suppose that future research to place these sites in relation to dominant will yield positive results. geomorphic factors: alluvial sedimentation Grazia Maria Bulgarelli and aggregation; coastal uplifting and sabkha formations; aeolian erosion and sedimen? tation; and human activities. 5. Tih?mah Coastal Archaeology Survey On 18 October the party drove north of al-Muh?, following the coastal track to A brief archaeological survey has been the oasis belt around Yahtul and beyond, undertaken by the Italian Archaeological to the W?di Yal?l marking the northern Mission in the Yemen Arab Republic in limit of the South Tih?mah great alluvial order to evaluate the extent and character front. All along this route the terminal of prehistorical coastal settlements in the sections of the thick alluvial deposits have Tih?mah plain and determine an appropriate been heavily deflated by dominant southward operational strategy for future research. The winds and covered by sand formations. importance of the question has been recently Ground observation of any archaeological highlighted by an intense survey carried out features is highly problematical. by Y. Zarins in the Saudi Tih?mah, as well In general, oases represent a critical source as by coastal archaeology in other regions of the Arabian Peninsula. of soil disturbance for the archaeological record, given the constant upsetting of silt Fieldwork was carried out in a rented formations on the lower riverine reaches Toyota Landcruiser for a six-day period (17 most suited to farming. Higher marine 22 October 1985) by a team of three; Pro? terraces have been disturbed as well as was fessor Maurizio Tosi, Mr Mario Mascellani and Mr Ahmad M. Sams?n of the Y.A.R. further evidenced to the north around al Organization for Antiquities and Libraries, Hawhah, where palm groves have been who were accompanied by a driver. The planted in the fine aeolian beaches while party reached the coast at al-Muh? by means the overlooking terraces are occupied by the of the San'?' -Ta'iz motorway on 16 October villages of today. These higher terraces are and was comfortably housed in the Ansaldo limited to 15-20 km. of coast to the north

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This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms of al-Hawhah, and may represent a promising Muh? region. Most interesting for a recon? area for early fishing settlements, given their struction of the coastal morphology is the proximity to the active shoreline. presence of post-Rasulid and subrecent sites The marine terraces start to rise on the between MTYi and the present shoreline, northern outskirts of the town, just beyond such as MTYiii with XVII-XIX century the w?di to be considered, at al-(5assah. European glass and the MTYiv cemetery. Here, artefacts of stone and ceramic were For this purpose a radiocarbon shell sample spread in a disturbed fashion and to some was collected at MTYi, extent can be collected all over the terrace On 20 October the survey party moved to line. A first loose distribution of lithics the northern section of the W?di Zabid has been detected at al-Gassah in association deltaic fan, centred in the town of al with different ceramic classes, suggesting a Mugaylis. While still on the central section of long-range frequentation (]SH). the river, 800 m. to the north of the palm Not much better preserved is the chain of groves of al-Mid?mman, a sherd scatter of sites recorded to the north along the open 1-1.5 ha. was noticed. The deflation pavement terraces between the villages up to al of the sherds is thick, but very low in Qat?bah: remains of earlier oases overlap profile, illustrating the intensity of erosion in the present ones, costantly reduced by soil the last 200 years. The sampled ceramics manuring. at MDM-N are representative of a very The interruption of coastal roads between recent occupation, including European glass sherds. Qat?bah and al-Fazzah compelled the party to proceed on the main Ta'iz -Hudaydah road, Residual sandy-silt terraces, strongly re? descending the W?di Zabid on 19 October. duced by wind deflation, can still be detected The W?di Zabid represents the largest along the beach rear line, emerging from alluvial plain across the entire Tih?mah, the predominant sand dune morphology, allowing lowland cultivation patterns of a whenever an opening occurs. The car was multitude of crops. driven at low tide some 3 km. south of Silt deposits extend well beyond the as-Safiyah. Here on the deflation floor of present-day cultivations, along the coastal a small terrace scattered specimens of floor between al-Mutaynah to the south and Terebralia palustris L. shells were collected as-Safiyah to the north for a total of 16 km. (SHF). This mollusc lives all around the These earlier silt formations, lying outside Indo-Pacific region, in symbiotic relation the present irrigation capacity, have been left with mangroves and populates the mudflats exposed to massive wind erosion that has among and around the tidal creeks in great deeply ploughed the small plain along the numbers. Such concentrations of Terebralia deltaic front, forming the typical yardang shells bear witness to an extinct mangrove landscape. A number of large Islamic settle? ments and cemeteries have been visited in environment; thus, for a reconstruction of the al-Fazzah area (MTYi, ii} Hi). coastal palaeoenvironments they are of great Best known is the 3-km. long MTY, significance. of the Rasulid age, to be excavated shortly At SHF as well a notched sandstone pebble by the Canadian Expedition of the Royal was recovered, probably an ancient net Ontario Museum. A thick deflation pave? sinker, further emphasizing the prospect of ment of pottery and other artefacts is witness an early dating of the mangrove intertidal to the massive erosion, apart from the environment. The coast is at present a yardang morphology of the reduced cultivated straight sand beach, with no remnants of silt behind it (fig. 29). The present shoreline tidal creeks that might provide a suitable runs 2-3 km. from the Rasulid sites, environment for mangroves. exhibiting less of a build-up than in the al Moving northwards from al-Mugaylis a 364

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms track led us across the dune-fields separating A 2-m.2 surface on the top of the mound W?di Zabid from the lower reaches of W?di was scraped to analyse the composition of Rim?\ A 30-m. high dune front separates the deflation pavement. Later in San'?' it the last 8 km. from the seashore. Partly was sifted at 1 mm. mesh. The final dry covered behind the dune, and cut across by weight of 3560 g. was composed of 93.67% the track, there is a 4-5 ha. site with a of fragmented Terebralia p. shells (Table 1). strongly deflated surface, allegedly of pre For the last three days of field-work Islamic date (ABD). The site produced a hospitality was offered to the An saldo Im few Rasulid glazed potsherds as well as some pianti camp at the R?'s Katanfb power-plant. obsidian flakes. The great majority of the After the discovery of the inland shell material littering the surface is made of a midden at as-Sumah a decision was made dark brown pottery, with predominantly to search for a similar configuration along open shapes, retaining traces of a thin glaze. another watercourse, to the immediate south Animal bones are abundant, while marine of Hudaydah, which would also allow close shells are comparably few. Terebralia are the examination of the marine terrace around predominant species, although a strong the airport. In this area two main widi?n reduction by fragmentation migh affect their are in close proximity with each other and incidence. No radiocarbon samples could be collected. we expected an interesting intersection of The W?di Rim?' is not cultivated for the early lacustrine-riverine systems that might allow for a fair preservation of the pre? last 14 km. of its course. Driving along historic evidence, 5 to 10 km. inland. The its still intact northern bank, we finally 20-m. high terraces bordering the airport to sighted the first shell-midden, right overlook? the west were of course excluded for security ing the edge of the terrace, to the east of reasons and we had to proceed directly to a hamlet called as-Sumah, 30 m. a.s.l. (SHM) the mouth of W?di Rumm?m, 22 km. south (fig. 30). This compact mound of Terebralia of Hudaydah (otherwise named on the p. has a round plan, some 50 m. in diameter, maps as W?di Gahabah). The large oasis slooing gently to the north to edge the of ad-Durayhimi expands all over the silty E-W track to al-Madaniyah. The average plain, preventing a large surface from thickness of the deposit is estimated around being observed, except for the recent dips 50 cm. Associated lithics support a pre? within the palm groves, very similar to the historic date as does the actual distance of site in al-Mugaylis. From ad-Durayhimi we the site from the seashore: 10 km.! A drove NNW to transect the deserted area mangrove tidal creek could hardly have separating it from W?di Sih?m, 7-8 km. entered the riverine bed for more than to the north. 2-3 km. A second prehistoric shell-midden was The site of SHM has therefore provided located on a small side branch of this system a first parameter to direct future research and named Gahabah (JHB). The site is made in the appropriate areas. The associated of a compact accumulation of Terebralia p,} lithic industry includes basalt flakes and extending 150 m. north-south and articulated only a few jasper ones; no tools were in two low elevations, some 80 cm. above recovered in our hasty reconnaissance. A the river bed. The slope is very gentle and fair amount of pottery is spread across the lithic artefacts are scattered all over it. site, suggesting a later date (2nd-lst millen? Basalt is again the predominant material, nium B.C.) or the superimposition of two although the inventory also includes four distinctive phases of occupation. Finds also obsidian flakes. Only small potsherds of a include direct evidence of food production, strongly abraded dark brown pottery were in the form of domesticated animal bones recovered, with no evidence of any later and fragmentary quernstones (fig. 31). material. A few quernstone fragments and

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This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 29 - Aeolian erosion at al-Fazzah, along the W?di Zabid seafront: yardang forma? tions north of al-Mutaynah in approx N-S orientation.

Fig. 30 - Site as-Sumah (SHM) shell midden on W?di Rim?' northern bank, seen from SW.

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 31 - Close-up view of deflation pavement at as-Sumah (SHM).

Fig. 32 - Site W?di Girb (JRB) seen from roadside (SE) during random sampling of midden deposit encroached by aeolian accumulation.

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms the recurrence of animal bones suggest a The main watercourse in this part of the developed stage of subsistence economy here Tih?mah is the W?di Surd?d. Along its as well. lowermost section a minor system called JHB lies 5 km. from the present seashore, W?di Girb runs parallel which might have confirming that coastal reconnaissance in represented a drainage section in earlier the Tih?mah will have to investigate deep times. Following the scheme suggested by into the interior according to a strongly the distribution of shell-middens in W?di metamorphosized drainage pattern in the Rim?7 and W?di Sih?m, we explored the deltaic reaches of the system. lower sections of both river-beds. A first Continuing north for little more than a site was located along a marine terrace at kilometre we reached the northern embank? the outlet of W?di Girb (JRBi). The site ment of the W?di 'Uqr, greatly lowered can be divided into a northern and a southern by severe wind erosion. Lying along the terrace we came across a very large early section; the first is characterized by a finely historical site, 25-30 ha. in extension and fragmented shell floor mixed with abundant some 2.5 km. in circuit according to the lithics of basalts and rhyolites, white the car's odometer. The area is significantly second is characterized by a looser distribution known as al-Qasabah/Har?bah: 'the ruins'. of shells and potsherds and might represent No structures are evident any longer and the a later occupation. Mammal bones are present site is one continuous deflation pavement in both sections of the site, concentrated in made of undecorated dark brown sherds, one case in a 2-m.2 area. gently sloping southward to line the earlier Along the northern bank of W?di Girb w?di bed. Both animal bones and molluscs a second prehistoric site has been sighted are very frequent. Enough Terebralia p. at c. 8 km. from the seashore (JRBii). The could be collected for a radiocarbon sample. archaeological complex is related to an early No lithic industry and almost no glazed lacustrine environment residually represented pottery were noted. The only significant by a large takyr silt flat now lying some small find is a fragment of an alabaster 200 m. SSE. On preliminary evidence this bangle with a planoconvex section. small depression might be the point of The coastal region to the north of origin of the W?di Girb. JRBii is a flat Hudaydah still retains some of the environ? midden, 70 X 25 m., covered by a thick mental aspects that might have characterized deflation pavement (fig. 32). The analysis the multispectral resource exploitation of late of a scraped surface sample has given the prehistoric times. weight division of topsoils, 42.36% is rep? This is particularly evident around the resented only by Terebralia p. shells, while As-Salif peninsula, surveyed in the last day artefacts are evenly split (34.58%) between of our reconnaissance, on 22 October. Rem? potsherds and lithics (Table 1). All known nants of mangrove swamps are still located lithotypes are present for the first time, at Mahall al-Qayyaim, sustaining a large including flint (2), jasper (41), basalts (236), lacustrine population of birds and crus? taceans. rhyolites (35), chalcedony (3) and obsidian (10) pointing to a more widespread or One of the most peculiar features in the Tih?mah around As-Salif is the tidal meadows efficient supply system plain wares of a on the less brackish sabhah mudflats. The reddish brown colour are predominant. The thick grass cover feeds a sizeable cattle most interesting find is two sherds of population. The proximity of the coral reef steatite/chlorite vessels, one representing a allows for sustained fishing activity all year rim fragment of a small globular bowl, round and fish is mostly exported to the with a 9-10 cm. mouth diameter (fig. 33), market towns of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. a type known from inventories of eastern 368

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Arabia and the Oman peninsula of the 2nd might have intermediated between the millennium B.C. Yemeni highlands and the Horn of Africa. JRBii might represent a close relative of Maurizio Tosi the 2nd millennium B.C. sites recently discovered by Y. Zarins at Sihi, about 150 km. to the north in the Saudi Tih?mah, 6. Research on Neolithic and Holocene paleo although it is still too early to put forward any connection before more concrete ceramic ecology in the Yemeni highlands parallels can be evaluated. The difference 1. Excavation in terms of material affluence from the other shell-middens at Gahabah and as-Sumah is Neolithic and Holocene research, in 1985, anyway striking, ensuring the terms of future concentrated on excavation and collection

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9o INT.

Fig. 33 - W?di Girb (JRB), chlorite vessel rimsherd (drawing by P. Smith).

classification once the data bases are ex? analysis rather than on exploration. The site panded. WTHiii, near middle W?di at-Tayylah in The recurrent presence of thick Terebralia the Hawl?n, was again selected for excavation palustris concentrations all over the coastal and paleoenvironmental studies (October region between As-Salif and the W?di 1985). The cooperation of Dr Francesco Di Zabid has made the shell the true protagonist Mario in the Neolithic part of the project of this embryonic research, suggesting that in is gratefully acknowledged. prehistoric times and as late as the early WTHiii is an open-air site of about 0.3 centuries of Islam the Tih?mah was a hectares (= 0.74 acres), marked by a dozen completely different world. Large mangrove stone structures interspersed with important thickets colonized the intertidal flatlands, scatters of lithic artefacts. An area of about deeply penetrating with broad abwar and 70 m.2 has now been opened by excavation. allowing a much richer biomass for the Both horizontal and vertical controls were benefit of human exploitation. It is still employed and, possibly for the first time too soon to draw any other conclusions, but in the Yemen Arab Republic (north Yemen), the availability of this abundant archaeo? detailed attention was paid to microstra logical material leads us to believe that the tigraphy and the environmental significance of Tih?mah has great potential for future sediments and cultural layers. research on Quaternary geology and the An E-W transect-trench 22 m. long and related study of early coastal cultures that two stone structures (F25, F37) were ex

369

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 34 - W?di at-Tayylah, site WTHiii. Elliptical hut F 25 and associated structures, as seen from the SE. Neolithic.

Fig. 35 - W?di at-Tayylah, site WTHiii. Base socket of a wall of stakes and branches, appended to structure F 25. Neolithic.

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms cavated in the upslope area of the site. associated with the surface of a slightly Study of building F25 provided a glimpse organic, grey 'paleosol', indicating slope stab? of one of the elliptical 'huts' which are ility and some vegetation cover. Building attributed to the Neolithic. F25 turned out F37, apparently dating from the Early Islamic to be a rather complex habitation structure. B?ni 'As?l period, is linked to modern-type, A flimsy structure of stakes and branches (a sandy-silty slope deposits. shed?) was appended to the main oval body, Two new test pits confirmed the existence while on the opposite side additional stone of still older traces of human presence, buried in previous sediments to a depth of about 1 m. There are possibly two super? imposed 'Neolithic' layers, preceded by an earlier episode of human activity ('Meso lithic'?). Some animal bones were recovered with the older Neolithic material; they represent, to our knowledge, the earliest animal sample so far found in north Yemen. These weathered and extremely crushed bones were subjected to painstaking lab? oratory treatment. They comprise mandible, radius and phalanx fragments belonging to medium-sized bovids, which may well be the Near Eastern variety of wild ox or Bos primigenius. It is worth noting that the context of these finds, from the deep levels of WTHiii, points to episodes of butchering, burning (near rough stone features?), and intensive stone-flaking (figs. 36-37).

2. Analysis and Interpretation

A major effort was made to understand the many artefact collections. Particular ? * v. : attention was given to the excavated material, for both its quantity and context information. Fig. 36 - W?di at-Tayylah, site WTHiii. New analytical approaches are being tested. East-west trench across the upper area of The following historical interpretation seems the site, exposing the neolithic surface (in to be emerging. the background) and the underlying levels 'Neolithic' refers to a life-style based on (test-pit in the foreground). incipient domestication of nature (cultivation and/or stock-raising). The Neolithic in north Yemen is still rather obscure. It falls be? tween the end of the hunting-gathering based rooms seem to have existed. A number traditions, almost unknown in the region, of features, including angular-stone floors and the appearance of a village, pottery and ashy patches, were found inside the using culture about 2000 B.C., (A. de building (figs. 34-35). Maigret's Bronze Age). Our field-work, It is now clear that most or all of the supplemented by comparisons with the rest half-buried stone structures at WTHiii are of the Arabian Peninsula has resulted in a

371

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms ^^^^^^^^ ' ^^^^

Fig. 37 - W?di at-Tayylah, site WTHiii. Test-pit as in fig. 50, northen section, showing the 'Tayylah' sequence of Holocene deposits.

preliminary definition of two Neolithic 3. Faunal studies aspects in north Yemen, possibly applicable The programme of faunal analysis for to the Yemen and Aslr uplands as a whole: paleoecology and paleoeconomy has been one (Qutr?n or Al-Had?') linked to the pursued. A paper on the main Bronze Age so-called Arabian Bifacial Tradition of cen? collection was published (F.G. Fedele, 'Fauna tral Arabia and the desert; the other of W?di Yan?'im (WYi), Yemen Arab (Tayylah or Haml?n) probably specific to Republic', EW9 n.s., 34, 1-3, 1984, 9 pp.) the mountainous zone. It is suggested that and work was completed on the collections from Ar-Raqlah RAQi (Bronze Age, 1985 the latter be viewed as part of an 'Upland excavation) and WTHiii (see above). The Neolithic Tradition*. It may be dated to finds from Ar-Raqlah mostly represent house* 6000-3000 B.C. according to climatic corre? hold refuse in which ovicaprids predominate; lations based on sediments. both sheep and goats can be demonstrated. The hypothesis that the Qutr?n aspect Cattle is quite subordinate. An upper jaw antedates the onset of this tradition at of a small carnivore, possibly a mongoose, WTHiii needs further testing. The chipped is also present. stone component of the Upland Tradition may be at the origin of the Bronze Age 4. Rock Art lithic industry. The latter has been inves? The start of a systematic search for tigated by F. Di Mario. Neolithic rock art has been hampered by 372

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms other demands on our time. A survey con? i.e. that Gabal Isbil and Gabal al-LisI were ducted in the Gabal as-Sama* area, 30 km. not the only sources of obsidian for ancient to the NNE of San'?', resulted in the dis? Yemen. In fact, in view of these initial covery of a richly engraved and inscribed results we decided to go on to explore other area, in a w?di bed cutting the lava plain volcanic areas and, in particular, the Sirw?h north of the gabal. The oldest engraving is area. On-the-spot examination gave negative probably that of a Sabaean personal name. results, even though a great many obsidian utensils were found on the surface at the 5. Public activities Sirw?h site itself. These utensils showed With the assistance of F. Di Mario, the very close compositional affinity (comendite) author cooperated in the preparation and with the obsidian flows of Gabal Isbil and staging of an exhibition on the work of Gabal al-Lisi, although in other respects the Italian Mission, at the San'?' Sheraton they differ greatly. Hotel, under the auspices of the Italian Statistical compositional analysis carried Embassy (October 1985). Displays with out on 116 archaeological obsidian samples photographs, drawings and finds, on the revealed four different groupings, but only Neolithic and zooarchaeological studies, were 20 samples form the sites of Gabal Qutr?n, prepared. W?di Yan?'im and Nagid al-Abyad can safely Francesco G. Fedele be stated to have been made with Gabal Isbil obsidian. Vincenzo Francaviglia 7. In Search of the Ancient Arabian Obsidian Sources During the previous visits of the Italian 8. Paleohotanical Analysis of the Pottery Archaeological Mission to Yemen it had Collected already struck us quite forcefully that ob? A great many of the sherds collected by sidian occupied a significant place in the the Italian Archaeological Mission were sub? lithic work of local neolithic production. jected to paleobotanical analysis aiming at We had also observed that distribution of the recovery, study and identification of obsidian utensils was fairly even, with no impressions and carbonized and silicified particular local concentration. Our first fragments contained within the sherds. working hypothesis was that the obsidian Material from several sites, including WYi, used in neolithic Yemen came exclusively MASi and WUiv, had been examined during from the two main volcanoes that produced the previous excavation campaigns (L. Co obsidian flows: Gabal Isbil and Gabal al stantini, 'Plant Impressions in Bronze Age Lisi, both in the volcanic area of Dam?r. Pottery from Yemen Arab Republic', EWf Sampling for Gabal al-Lisi was completed 34, 1-3, 1984, pp. 107-15), but re-examination during the 1984 campaign, while sampling of sherds that had shown no significant for Gabal Isbil continued in 1985. As has impressions on the first analysis gave an already been pointed out elsewhere, Gabal opportunity to exploit the last three years' Isbil is a large stratovolcano showing very experience, revealing further cereal im? considerable caldera collapse, the acid (ob? pressions to be added to those already sidian) flows of which merge with the more studied. basic (non-obsidian) flows. Altogether we examined about 8500 XRF analysis was continued on the geo? sherds coming from 78 different archaeo? logical samples collected during the 1985 logical locations which for various reasons campaign, as well as on obsidian samples (survey and/or excavation) had been explored from archaeological excavation. by the I.AJVL Of the 78 locations, only 18 Laboratory examination confirms what yielded sherds bearing identifiable im? analysis of the first samples had suggested, pressions, mainly of cereals. From these sites

373

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms we singled out a total of 65 sherds amounting have been double harvest season, and this to 0.76% of all those examined, and ident? tallies with the survey of the Hili 8 sites ified among them 128 impressions, 4 car? (S, Cleuziou, L. Costantini, 'Premiers ele? bonized remains and 22 silicified residues ments sur l'agriculture protohistorique de of glumes. From the chronological point l'Arabie Orientale', Paleorient, 6, 1980, of view, the 18 sites examined can be pp. 245-51; S. Cleuziou, L. Costantini, 'A divided into two groups, the larger group l'origine des oasis', La Recherche, 13, 137, consisting of 15 sites that can be attributed 1982, pp. 1180-82) in the Oman peninsula, to the Bronze Age, and the smaller group and the Pirak site (L. Costantini, Talaeo of only three sites dating back to the Sabaean ethnobotany at Pirak: A Contribution to period (for chronology see A. de Maigret, the 2nd Millennium B.C. Agriculture of 'A Bronze Age for Southern Arabia', EW', the Sibi-Kacchi Plain, Pakistan', in M. Tad 34, 1-3, 1984, pp. 75-106). dei, ed., South Asian Archaeology 1979, The various species identified in the sites Naples 1981, pp. 271-77), in Pakistan. belonging to the protohistorical and Sabaean In the three sites of the Sabaean period periods are listed in Table 1. straw proves to be an essential structural In the case of the protohistorical sherds, component of the mixture, giving it par? the occurrence of seed impressions in the ticular lightness. Any irregularities resulting material itself seems quite accidental as no from hollows produced by small fragments significant amount of straw but only isolated of straw were easily eliminated by the slip cereal caryopsides were found. Just one which afforded the opportunity to smoothen shard, from WYi, showed enough wheat and waterproof the surfaces. The sherds and barley straw (rachis segments, glumes, examined showed no signs of rough finish, etc.) to suggest they had been deliberately suggesting that the straw was chopped mixed in. fine before being mixed in with the clay. Although the quantity of impressions of Analysis of impressions and silicified remains various species found in the protohistorical revealed the presence of Hordeum, Triticum, sites involves too many factors imluencing Panicum, Echinochloa, Paspalum and Linum, their distribution and preservation for exact and this tallies perfectly with the evidence assessment, there seems to be a certain found in the pre-Islamic site of Hagar Bin prevalence of barley over wheat. It is also Humayd, in the W?di Bayh?n, Democratic worth noting that wheat is to be found Yemen (T.R. Sonderstrom, 'Impressions of in the WYa, MASi, WUiv, RAQi ,and cereals and other plants of Hajar Bin NABvii sites, where geopedological survey Humeid', in G.W. Van Beek, ed., Hajar has revealed remains of paleosols connected Bin Humeid. Investigations at a Pre-Islamic with agricultural activities. Moreover, site Site in South Arabia, Baltimore 1969, WYi bears evidence of Sorghum and pp. 399-407). Panicum, suggesting that there may well Lorenzo Costantini

Table 1 - Compositional variability of deflation surface cover on shell-middens

Type of materialAs-Sumah East JRBii g. % g. % Terebralia p. 3335 93.67 1470 42.36 Other shells 15 00.42 25 00.72 Ceramics 20 00.56 600 17.29 Animal bones 20 00.56 125 3.60 Lithic industry 120 03.37 600 17.29 Gravel stones 50 01.40 650 18.73 TOTAL 3560 100.00 347? 100.00 374

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Islamic Period of the prayer-hall with the arcaded court In 1985 the Italian Archaelogical Mission (Sahn) forms part of an organic architectural in North Yemen was once again engaged in project; the second (II) including buildings the research programme on the Islamic period, where the court is not integrated with the begun in 1984. The team composed of prayer-hall or does not belong to the same Professors Umberto Scerrato, Giovanna Ven architectural scheme, but is simply a space trone Vassallo and Paolo Cuneo, Mr for circulation, chiefly for ritual ablutions, Michael Jung and Mr Mario Mascellani spent at times connected with covered areas serving November visiting 32 sites and 92 monu? as oratories, accommodation for pilgrims, madrasa, etc. ments, above all religious buildings, and con? ducting surveys on 70 of them. In the case I - Mosques with Organic Courts (Table 2) of the Masgid al-Qubba al-Qadima at Hadda, the Great Mosque of ar-Rawda, the complex IA - Flat-roofed mosques at 'Umm Layla and the Great Mosque at IA 1 - with aisles parallel to the qiblt Hays, the monuments were also topographi? wall cally surveyed. One of the main concerns of the 1985 a) with longitudinal court (e.g. al campaign was the continuation of studies on Ganad; ar-Rawda, al-G?mi' al-Kablr: the typology of religious architecture in fig. 38); North Yemen, with the aim of reaching at b) with latitudinal court (e.g. Sa'da, least a preliminary definition of the vari? ous types of religious buildings identified throughout the different provinces of the country. To this purpose inquiry was ex? tended to a number of regions that had not as yet been visited: the region of Sa'da and part of Hagga, some places in the regions of M?'rib, Dam?r and Tbb, and various sites in the region of al-Hudayda, especially in the centre and south (see attached list). Our study was limited mainly to the observation and survey of architectural struc? tures, because we had only few and, at times, uncertain data at our disposal, and no opportunity as yet to put research on a sound archaeological basis. The data we collected in the 1984 and 1985 campaigns, together with the published reports of previous surveys, allowed a pre? liminary typological classification of the mosques in North Yemen to be made. A report was delivered at the recent 'Seminar for Arabian Studies' (London, July 1986), entitled: 'Studies for a typology of Islamic architecture in North Yemen'. To begin with, the typology was roughly divided into two broad categories: the first Fig. 38 - ar-Rawda: al-G?mi' al-Kabir, the (I) including buildings where the combination plan. (N. Olivieri 1985).

375

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Table 2

IA - FLAT-ROOFED MOSQUES

I Ala 1Mb IA1c

IA2

IA3a IA3b IA3c IB - DOMED MOSQUE 5 so SEE

IB1 nog ODO BOB

IB2c IB2a IB2b DD

IB3

I -MOSQUES WITH ORGANIC COURT

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms G. al-H?dl: figs. 39-41; Zabld, al hypothesis on derivation from pre-Islamic G?mi' al-Kabir; Sah?ra, G. al-Im?m south Arabian models because the quality al-Q?sim; H?t, M. as-Saumi'a); of the comparable elements is still too c) with square court (e.g. Sib?m general. Indeed, the building of Sirwah Kawkab?n, al-G?mi' al-Kabir); Arhab, which is always mentioned in this IA 2 - with transept (e.g. Gibla, al-G?mi' connection and which is known of through al-Kabir); the Glaser drawing, should not be a temple

.-I:::::":::: :l n I: ? r ?:: ~Tt=ki \ ? ? ' EL :::

0 5 10m _ |u^? AanMMUH|^r" ^

Fig. 39 - Sa'da: Garni' al-H?di, the plan. (N. Olivieri 1985).

IA 3 - with aisles perpendicular to the adapted for the use of the mosque, but a qibli wall mosque built with a spolia of more ancient a) with longitudinal court (e.g. D? pre-Islamic buildings, according to the opinion Asraq, al-G?mi' al-Kabir); expressed by J. Schmidt (Arch?ologische Be? b) with latitudinal court (e.g. Zaf?r richte aus dem Yemen, I, 1982, p. 169). DI Bin); IB - Domed mosques (Table 2) (sometimes c) with square court (e.g. al-'Uqda, preceded by flat-roofed bays) al-G?mi'). IB 1 - with the prayer-hall divided in 5 Almost all the Type IA mosques are G?mi{ or more spans, and a large dome before the and are predominant on the plateau, though mihr?b (e.g. al-madrasa al-Muzaffariyya and they are also to be found in the Tih?ma (e.g. al-madrasa al-Asrafiyya of Ta'izz); Zabld). IB 2 - with tripartite prayer-hall, covered Regarding the origin of the type I A, it with has not as yet been possible to advance any a) six domes of equal dimensions, ar

377

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 40 - Sa'da: Cmi' al Hadi. (Dep. CS 15947/6; M. Jung).

Fig. 41 - Sa'da: Gami' al H5d. (Dep. CS 15914/13; P. Cuneo).

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 42 - az-Zaydiyya: al-G?mi' aUCablr. (Dep. CS 15888/36; U. Scerrato).

^^^^^^^

Fig. 43 - az-Zaydiyya: al-G?mi' al-Kabir, the plan. (E. Gatti 1986).

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms \

Fig. 44 - Ibb: madrasa '?sad ad-Din. (Dep. CS 13385; G. Ventrone). ranged in two groups of three (e.g. al survey, at least in this first phase, has madrasa al-Mu'tabiyya of Ta'izz; an exception revealed fewer examples of it. A significant is the Great Mosque of az-Zaydiyya: figs. feature of this type of mosque is that usually 42-43, which has ten domes in two groups the court is practically square and is of of five); rather small area compared with the covered b) a dome before the mihr?b, between part. two pairs of smaller domes on both sides Despite the fact that its features are almost (e.g. at Tbb, al-madrasa ?sad ad-Din: unique in Yemenite architecture, the Garni* fig. 44; Zabld, al-madrasa al^Kamaliyya); al-Kablr at Hays can also be attributed to c) a central dome between two smaller Type IB. This court mosque was originally covered with long barrel vaults, later partly domes (e.g. at Bayt al-Faqih, al-G?mi' al replaced by domes of the Indian type. Its Kabir: figs. 45-46); typical features include the main entrance IB 3 - with prayer-hall covered by two iw?n placed at the east end of the south domes of equal size (e.g. at San'?*, al-Gan?). facade, while another large iw?n dominates Beyond the Garni* mosques, Type IB the southern side of the court opposite the includes many masgid and madrasa. prayer hall, and the original symmetrical The typology of the dome court is also distribution of the three entrances on either present in the central plateau at San'?' due side of the court, recalling Irano-Seljuk cul? to Ottoman influence, while the Tih?ma ture and its Syro-Anatolic variants. 380

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms I_I_I

Fig. 46 - Bayt al-Faqih: al-Gami* al-Kabir, the plan.

(N. Olivieri 1986).

Fig. 45 - Bayt al-Faqih: al Garni' al-Kabir. (Dep. CS 15966/13; M. Jung).

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms II - Mosques with Unrelated Court (Table 3) inner regions (e.g. Tam?r, al-Masgid; Kawkab?n, M. as-Sarifa; San'?', M. IIA - Flat-roofed mosques at-T?w?s); IIA 1 - with latitudinal prayer hall b) with aisles perpendicular to the qibli wall (e.g. Tul?, M. Sa'Id, Kawkab?n, a) with aisles parallel to the qihli wall (from a minimum of two to a maxi? M. 'Abd All?h al-MansGr); mum of seven aisles (e.g. Sa'da, M. IIA 3 - with square prayer hall ad-Dahab, M. an-N?r; S?qayn, C a) with aisles parallel to the qibli wall, Im?m az-Zatm). The most frequent from two to seven aisles (e.g. H?t, type of it can be found in the central M. al-'Asis; Kawkab?n, al-G?mi' al regions as well as in Tih?ma; Kabir; Sah?ra, M. al-'Aqaba); b) with aisles perpendicular to the qibli b) with aisles perpendicular to the qibli wall (e.g. Tul?, M. al-Mah?mid). wall, 'basilical mosque'; for the time This type is present only in the inner being, evidence of this type has only regions.

0 5 10m i-1_i

Fig. 47 - Sa'da: Masgid an-Niz?rT, Fig. 48 - Sib?m Kawkab?n: al-G?mi' al-Kabir, the plan. (E. Gatti 1986). the plan. (N. Olivieri 1986).

been found in three buildings at IIB - Domed mosques (Table 3) Sa'da: M. an-Niz?rl, fig. 47, M. al IIB 1 - with prayer hall covered with one Y?bis, M. ad-Dawid); single dome IIA 2 - with long rectangular prayer hall, a) without side rooms (e.g. az-Zuhra, 'templar mosque' M. Ban! Gibr?n); a) with aisles parallel to the qibli wall; b) with two vaulted rooms at the sides it is attested to only in the central (e.g. Hays, al-Madrasa al-Iskandariyya); 382

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Table 3

IIA FLAT-ROOFED MOSQUES (position of annexed halls)

II A4* HAlb

IA2a IA2b

IIA?a IIA3b

II B - DOMED MOSQUES

HB1a IIB-lb

on OlOl IIB2

O oa -ooa ODO B3a IIB3b

DIOIOI?IOI oid?iaoi IIB4 qqq oop a ?PI? ?S I1B5 8 ?15P

Q?OD ao 1IB6

II- MOSQUES WITH UNRELATED COURT

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms IIB 2 - with prayer hall covered with two Mosque named after the Im?m al-H?di domes (e.g. Zabid, M. ad-Dayba; Hays, M. which appears to have reached its present at-Tawsi); form through 16th century modifications, IIB 3 - with three domes belongs to the group of classical mosques a) with a larger central dome (e.g. at with courtyards, Type IA. The most ancient Tuhayt?, M. al-Mazg?gi: figs. 49-50; Dayr mosques in North Yemen, such as the Harls: figs. 51-52); Garni' akKabir at San'?', al-Canad and Zabid also belong to this group. The remaining b) with domes of equal size (e.g. al fifteen mosques whose prayer halls we were Mutayna: figs. 53-54); able to examine, all belong to group II, IIB 4 - with five domes set side by side without an actual courtyard in the architec? (e.g. S?q al-Garr?hi: figs. 55-56); tural sense; most of them have a surrounding IIB 5 - with six domes of equal size in area varying in shape and size and serving two parallel rows (e.g. al-Qutay': fig. 57); various purposes, as was the case with the IIB 6 - with nine domes covering a other mosques belonging to this group in square prayer hall (e.g. Bayt al-Faqih, M. other parts of the country. al-Musra'a, figs. 58-59). They are all flat-roofed, with prayer Many of these mosques are preceded by halls extending in width rather than in length: one or more flat-roofed bays (e.g. al-Qutay4); 12 have aisles parallel to the qibli wall opposite the prayer hall there is a pavilion, (Type IIA la), while in the remaining three usually domed (e.g. at-Tuhayt?, M. al have aisles perpendicular to it (Type IIA lb). Mazg?gi), at times equipped with a mihr?b The scanty data we have at our disposal and, like the annexes of type IIA mosques, show evidence of type IIA lb going back serving various purposes. to the end of the 14th century, like the On the whole the dome buildings of an-Niz?ri mosque, while Type IIA la is to Tih?ma show a certain number of connections be placed in the 15th century: M. ad-Dahab, with some architectural elements of Muslim M. az-Zayd?n, which is earlier than 1442 India. This fact is particularly evident in a A.D., and M. at-T?t (c. 1462 A.D.). large number of mosques, like Bayt al-Faqlh. Most of the type IIA la mosques usually It would be interesting to look for probable have only two aisles, but the M. as influences from pre-Moghul architecture in Subaih, M. as-Sayb?n, M. al-Qasr and Gujarat and Deccan. M. al-Hig?r have three. Moreover, almost One of the most interesting results of the all of them have lateral extensions, gen? 1985 Campaign was the detailed survey of erally towards the east, very often cor? the town of Sa'da, including the Great responding to an extension of the prayer Mosque for which only topographical data hall, as in the mosques of al-'Ariz, as-Subaih have so far been available. On the basis and az-Zayd?n. of the invaluable data offered by Elke At times covered oratories are set to the Niew?hner-Eberhard's monographical study east of the fore-court, as in M. an-N?r, (Sa'da, Wiesbaden 1985) we undertook a or to the west of the prayer hall, as in the closer study of the city's mosques, paying mosques of al-Qasr and al-'Ariz. particular attention to the architectural dec? Rooms serving various purposes and oration. This brought out some peculiar opening into the same area are to be seen features of the local religious architecture, in the al-'Ariz, as-Subaih and as-Sayb?n evident in the layout of the prayer hall and mosques. its annexes, in the individual structural This room-arrangment and, to a lesser elements, and in some purely decorative extent the covered oratories, at times co? aspects. existing as in M. al-'Ariz, characterize The only exception here is the Great practically all Yemenite religious buildings, 384

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 49 at-Tuhayta: Masgid al -Mazgagi. (Dep. CS 15900/10a; U Scerrato).

0oi ?5 > aoHX ? ? i-> Fig- the 50 plan. - at-Tuhayt?: (V. Labianca Masgid 1986). al-Mazg?gl,

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms 10 mt

Fig. 52 - Dayr Haris: al-Masgid, the plan.

(V. Labianca 1986).

Fig. 54 - al-Mutayna: the Masgid. (Dep. CS U.15899/16a; Scerrato).

J9 (D

JOmt

0

Fig. 53 - al-Mutayna: the (E. plan Gattiof the masgid. 1986).

Fig. 51 - Dayr Haris: al-Masgid. (Dep. CS 15894/26a;

M. Jung).

(D

^^^^^^^^^^^^

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 55 -CO S?q al-Garr?hi: al-G?mi' 0_2_ al-Kabir, the plan. (V. Labianca 1986).

Fig. 56 - S?q al-Garr?hi al-G?mi\ (Dep. CS 15884/22a; U. Scerrato).

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms >1

(jj?; ~lomt 0 5 10 Fig. 57 -al-Qutay': al-Odmi' al-Kabir, the Fig. 58 - Bayt al-Faqih: Masgid al-Musra'a, plan. (V. Labianca, 1986). the plan. (N. Olivieri 1986).

Fig. 59 - Bayt al-Faqih: Masgid al-Mu'rd'a, western pavilion. (Dep. CS 15896/24; U. Scerrato).

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms appearing both in the central area of the the back wall of the covered area annexed plateau, as for example at Cayman, and in to the east side of the prayer hall, as well Tih?ma. In the latter area, however, they as the brickwork on the northern wall of almost always have the typical domed roofing. the mosque itself and the building nearby The only evidence of Type IIA lb is rep? (fig. 61). resented by the ad-DawId, an Niz?ri and al In the M?'rib province arches '? pen Y?bis mosques. However, these mosques dentifs' can be seen on the facade of the show other very interesting structural and prayer hall of the al-'Uqda mosque, and decorative features. They all have tall, in this case they are very close to those of slender columns, lobed or polystyle in plan the Zaf?r mosque. (fig. 60); the only comparable example in Finally, a more stylized version is to be North Yemen is at Zaf?r Dibin. seen in the arches surrounding the court This is not the only feature these mosques of the Great Mosque of ar-Rawda, in the have in common with this royal 13 th century San'?' region, apparently belonging to a religious complex: the characteristic small later phase. This kind of highly decorated glazed cups, usually in turquoise, which arch that, we believe, in Yemen derives form part of the stucco decoration around from models introduced from Fatimid Egypt gates and windows, are in fact to be seen (F. Shafi'i, 'An Early Fatimid Mihrab in the at Zaf?r, in the al-Y?bis (fig. 62) and an Mosque of Ibn Tulun', in Bulletin of the Niz?ri mosques, as well as the az-Zayd?n Faculty of Arts, XV 1, 1953, pp. 67-72) is mosque and the northern entrance to the anyway variously testified in the Islamic world M. ad-Da'f?n in Sa'da. This kind of dec? in different versions, from Spain to Ifriqyya, oration had also been the object of special to Egypt, Mesopotamia, up to Anatolia (see attention in the previous campaign (IsMEO Finster, op. cit., pp. 268-69). Activities, EW, 34, 1984, p. 450), and we Another project for the immediate future noted that it can also be seen in the G?mi* concerns the northern monumental cemetery of Dibin and ar-Rawda (fig. 63), as well as of Sa'da, including the epigraphic survey and in the al-Abhar and Sal?h ad-Din mosques of the typology of tomb-stones, some of which San'?'. It can, in fact, be considered one of show considerable stylistic and technical the peculiar features of Yemenite architectural qualities. decoration. As far as we know, however, it In the cemeteries to the North of Sa'da, is limited to the northern and central areas. a group of tetrapyla mausolea which seem Another feature that, to our present knowl? not to have parallels in Yemen and which edge, is exclusive to these regions is a are furthermore covered by a characteristic particular type of polylobate arch which we webbed and lobed dome, that we also could define as the type 'a pendentifs'. find in some mausolea built in the area to It can be found on the facades of the mosques the South of the al-H?di Mosque, deserves of Zaf?r Dibin and Dibin (B. Finster, Ar? our attention. While the kind of webbed ch?ologische Berichte aus dem Yemen, I, or lobed dome is well testified in the frame 1982, pi. 124 a), on the outer annex of the of Rasulid and Tahirid Architecture in the Tul? G?mi' prayer hall (see L. Golvin and South of the country, the webbed and lobed M.-Ch. Fromont, Thula, Paris 1984, ph. 18) type seems limited to the area of Sa'da, and there are various occurrences in the city where one of the most ancient instances may of Sa'da, both as a real arch and as stucco probably be shown in the dome in front bas-relief decoration on walls. Half an arch of the mihrab of the an-Niz?ri Mosque, that of this kind remains attached to the corner we deem may be datable to the 15th of a mausoleum at the west end of the century. G?mi' al-H?di forecourt. Moreover, in the It is, in fact, possible that these mag? mosque of al-'Ariz similar arches decorate nificent buildings provided the inspiration

389

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 60 - Sa'da: Masgid al-Y?his, lobed Fig. 61 - Sa da: arch '? pendentifs', build? columns in the oratory. (Dep. CS 15838/27; ing near the Masgid al-'Ariz. (Dep CS U. Scerrato). 15945/14; M. Jung).

Fig. 62 - Sa'da: decoration with glazed Fig. 63 - ar-Rawda: al-G?mi' al-Kablr dec? cups in the Masgid al-Y?bis. (Dep CS oration with glazed cups in the court. 15943/34; M. Jung). (Dep. CS 15398/32a; U. Scerrato).

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Fig. 64 - Sa'da: mausoleums in the northern cemetery. (Dep. CS 15942/11; M. Jung).

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms ':*...... I

^^^^^^^^^^^ Fig. 65 - S?qayn: mausoleum at East of Masgid ad-Da'i. (Dep. CS 15854/12a; U. Scerrato).

for the funerary monuments which seem ? Ma'in (city). to have formed the original nucleus around ? Dayr Haris. which the cemetery developed. This would ? 'Umm Layla. place the first phase at the beginning of the ? Zabid (Masgid al-B?sa). 15th century. ? al-Mahgam. We are how carrying out the archi? ? Bar?qis (city). tectural study of the characteristic domed mausoleums. This study will, moreover, ? Bayt *Ata. form part of a more general research proj? ? Old al-Mansuriyya. ect begun last year and dedicated to the The Mission is also carrying out research country's funerary monuments. The field of and surveys on historical-urbanistic topics, research is therefore being expanded to and has already launched two complementary include the mausoleums annexed to the Garni* kinds of investigation: one dealing with typo? al-Im?m al-Q?sim of Sah?ra, the M. ad logical and functional features, the other with D?'i of S?qayn (fig. 65) and some isolated the morphological and spatial aspects. buildings of H?t, to mention only a few of The first type of inquiry aims at listing those visited this year. and classifying the main urban structures of Archaeological research included the col? ancient and medieval origin; in many cases lection of surface material from the following the historical importance of such structures sites, as well: depends on the fact that layout has been ? Sa'da, cemeteries. extraordinarily well preserved from the sue

392

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms cessive modifications and stratifications so layout and city walls and citadels when they common in most towns in other Muslim occur. countries. Among the most compact, structurally com? We are therefore dealing with evidence plex urban centres, research has so far of what could well be a sort of * original touched on: Islamic town-planning', which at the same ? in the Tih?ma coastal area: al-Luhayya, time shows urban features typical of this al-Hudayda, al-Muh?; part of the Arabian peninsula. This may, ? in the Tih?ma inland area: Hays, in fact, be a case of the persistence of ancient Bayt-al-Faqih, al-Mans?riyya; spatial patterns preserved on the sites, possibly ? in the northern plateau area: Sa'da, thanks to practically unchanging life-styles, S?qayn, 'Umm Layla, Sah?ra; deriving from the organization of dwellings ? in the central plateau area: San% that evolved through pre-Islamic southern 'Amr?n, Sib?m-Kawkab?n, Tul?, Hagga; Arabian culture. One of the aims of our ? in the southern plateau area: Dam?r, typological classification of surviving urban Gibla, Rad?', Tbb. centres is to verify this possibility. The Some detailed urban analyses will be typology seems to correspond, though not in prepared for centres chosen as representative all points, to the large-scale context of the of their geographical areas: the cities of al human settlements that are still to be seen Luhayya, Hays, Sa'da, 'Amr?n and Tbb, for in the different geo-cultural areas of the which a parallel study of the religious build? country: the coastal plain, the plateau and ings and the historical, artistic and epi the predesert area. graphical contexts is also under way. Surveys Particular attention is being focused on the are to be conducted on a series of buildings cores of the major urban centres, where and open spaces of these towns, with the various kinds of public buildings and spaces aim of reconstructing and piecing together were created in close spatial and functional their architectural and urbanistic layouts. relationships: mosque, madrasa, market, bath, Umberto Scerrato, samsara and funduq. We are also studying Giovanna Ventrone, their locations in connection with the street Paolo Cuneo

List of Islamic Monuments and Sites Visited during the Campaigns of the Years 1984 and 1985 Province of Sa'da Masgid at-T?yl SA'DA, 1985 Masgid at-T?t G?mi' al-H?dl (figs. 39-41) Masgid al-'Ulayy?n Masgid al-'Ariz (fig. 61) Masgid al-Y?bis (figs. 60, 62) Masgid ad-Da'f?n Masgid az-Zaid?n Masgid ad-Dahab Western Cemetery (fig. 64) Masgid ad-Dawid 'UMM LAYLA, 1985 Masgid al-Hig?r al-Masgid Masgid al-Hiri al-Qasr Masgid an-Nagg?r S?QAYN, 1985 Masgid an-Nizari (fig. 47) G?mi' Im?m az-Zatln Masgid an-N?r Masgid ad-D?l Masgid al-Qasr Masgid al-Ma'In Masgid as-Saib?n Masgid al-Muqawwar Masgid as-Samrl Masgid an-Nif?s Masgid as-Subaih Masgid al-WasIt

393

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Province of Hagga Masgid Hamza SAH?RA, 1985 Masgid as-Sagay G?mi' al-Im?m ?l-Q?sim HADDA, 1984, 1985 Masgid D?r al-'Aqaba Masgid al-Qubba al-Qadima Masgid Di-Sarafin Masgid as-Say?li ZAF?R DIBIN, 1984 SANTA', 1984, 1985 Masgid al-Im?m al-Mans?r al-G?mi' al-Kabir DIBIN, 1984 Masgid al-Abhar al-G?mi' al-Kablr Masgid 'Ali Masgid 'Aqil Province of M?'rib Masgid al-Baklriyya BAR?QIS, 1985 Masgid D?w?d Mausoleum/ mosque Masgid al-Filayhl AL-'UQDA, 1985 Masgid al-Gan?h al-Masgid Masgid al-Madhab MA'RIB, 1984 Masgid al-Madrasa G?mi' Sulaym?n Masgid M?s? Masgid al-Mutawakkil Province of San'?' Masgid an-Nahrayn HARF, 1985 Masgid at-T?w?s al-G?mi' al-Kabir Masgid Talha HOT, 1985 Masgid Sal?h ad-Din al-G?mi' al-Kabir, or g. as-Sig?ra GIH?NA, 1984 Masgid al-A'l? Masgid al-Qubba as-Sin?niyya Masgid 'Asis Masgid al-Buh?ri Masgid as-Saumfa ASN?F, 1984 Mausoleum no. 1 al-G?mi4 alnKabir ad-Dir?'a Mausoleum no. 2 Masgid ad-Dir?'a Mausoleum no. 3 Masgid al-'Abb?s TUL?, 1984 GAYM?N, 1984 al-G?mi' al-Kablr Masgid al-Gu'ayd?n Madrasa Saraf ad-DIn Masgid al-Wasali Masgid Gurze Masgid Mabh?n Province of Dam?r Masgid Sa'Id DAM?R, 1984 Qubba Madrasat alnH?di al-G?mi' al-Kabir SIB?M KAWKAB?N, 1984 al-Madrasa al-Samsiyya al-G?mi' al-Kablr Masgid Yahya ibn Hamza Eastern funerary complex Qubba D?daiyya KAWKAB?N, 1984 RAD?', 1985 al-G?mi' al.Kablr (fig. 48) al-G?mi' al-Kabir Masgid 'Abd All?h al-Mans?r al-Madrasa al-'Amiriyya Masgid ad-Dul?'i al-Madrasa al-Bagd?diyya Masgid al-Mashad Masgid ar-Rob?t Masgid as-Sarifa DO MARM?R, 1984 Province of Tbb al-Masgid TBB, 1984, 1985 al-Qasr al-G?mi' al-Kabir AR-RAWDA, 1984, 1985 Madrasat ?sad ad-Din al-Gass?ni (Hg. 44) al-G?mi' al-Kabir (figs. 38, 63) Masgid al-Gal?liyya 394

This content downloaded from 193.52.22.134 on Mon, 06 May 2019 17:48:46 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Qubbat al-Masgid al-Qadim Madrasat at-Takiyya Qubbat Sayh Ya'q?b Masgid al-Han?d GIBLA, 1984 al-Madrasa al-Iskandariyya al-G?mi* al-Kabir Masgid al-Kelliyya Masgid as-Sunna Masgid al-M?fi 1 Qubbat Sayh Ya'q?b Masgid al-M?fi 2 AL-MAH?DIR, 1985 Masgid as-Sayyid Ga'far al-G?mi' al-Kablr Masgid at-Taws! MAHALLAT AL-MAN?RA, 1985 AL-HUDAYDA, 1984 Masgid al-Qasaba AL-LUHAYYA, 1985 AL-'UDAYN, 1985 al-G?mi4 al^ECabir al-G?mi' al-Kabir Masgid al-Gabali Madrasat an^N?r Masgid al-Murg?nl Old Hamm?m AL-MANS?RIYYA, 1984 al-G?mi' al-Kabir Province of Ta'izz Masgid as-S?q AL-GANAD, 1984 Masgid at-Tal?t G?mi' Ma'?n Ibn Gabal AL-MAR?WI'?, 1985 TA'IZZ, 1984 al-G?mi4 al-Kabir al-Madrasa al-Asrafiyya AL-MIDAMMA, 1985 al-Madrasa al-Muzaffariyya al-Masgid al-Madrasa al-Mu'tabiyya AL-MUHA', 1984 Masgid an-Nis?' Masgid 'Abd Allah Sult?n Masgid 'Abd al-H?dl Masgid al-Haila Province of al-Hudayda Masgid al-Hamm?m B?GIL, 1985 Masgid al-Mugaynl al-G?mi' al-Kabir Masgid as-S?dili BAYT 'AT?', 1985 Masgid Sa'm ad-Dahr al-Masgid AL-MUTAYNA, 1985 BAYT AL-FAQlH, 1984, 1985 al-Masgid (figs. 53-54) al-G?mi' al-Kablr (figs. 45-46) AL-QUTAY', 1985 Masgid al-'Agll al-G?mi' al-Kabir (fig. 57) Masgid ad-D?yl?ni AT-TUHAYT?, 1985 Masgid al-Halabi Masgid al-Mazg?gl (figs. 49-50) Masgid al-Musra'a (figs. 58-59) ZABID, 1984, 1985 Masgid as-S?fi al-G?mi' al-Kabir Masgid al-Wasali al-Madrasa al-Kam?liyya AD-DAHI, 1985 Masgid al-?s?'ir al-G?mi' al-Kablr Citadel mosque Masgid Q?sim ibn 'All Mausoleum of Ways al-Harani DAYR HARIS, 1985 Mausoleum of Ab? M?s? al-?s'ari al-Masgid (fig. 52) AZ-ZAYDIYYA, 1985 AL-F?ZZA, 1985 al-G?mi' al-Kabir (figs. 42-43) al-Masgid AZ-ZUHRA, 1985 SOQ AL-GARR?HI, 1985 al-G?mi' aLKabir al-G?mi' al-Kabir (fig. 56) Masgid Bani Gibr?n HAYS, 1984, 1985 Masgid al-Hanis al-G?mi' al-Kabir Masgid as-Sayh Madrasat al-Hit?ri Masgid as-S?q

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