Masaryk University Faculty of Arts Department of Classical Studies Prehistoric Archaeology of the Near East Bachelor’s Diploma Thesis 2019 Filip Hájek Masaryk University Faculty of Arts Department of Classical Studies Prehistoric Archaeology of the Near East Filip Hájek Seafaring and maritime interactions in the Arabo-Persian Gulf during the sixth and fifth millennium BC Bachelor’s Diploma Thesis Supervisor: Dr. phil. Maximilian Wilding 2019 DECLARATION I declare that I have worked on this thesis independently, using only the primary and secondary sources listed in the bibliography. I agree with storing this work in the library of the Prehistoric Archaeology of the Near East at the Masaryk University in Brno and making it accessible for study purposes. Brno, 14th of May 2019 .......................................................... Signature ABSTRACT Title: Seafaring and maritime interactions in the Arabo-Persian Gulf during the sixth and fifth millennium BC Author: Filip Hájek Department / Institute: Masaryk University, Faculty of Arts, Department of Classical Studies, Centre of Prehistoric Archaeology of the Near East Supervisor of the Master’s thesis: Dr. phil. Maximilian Wilding Abstract: The thesis is focused on the nature of the seafaring and maritime contacts in the Arabo-Persian Gulf during the sixth and fifth millennium BC and compiles available data related to seafaring as the palaeoclimatic conditions, the distribution of sites and imported materials and boat-related finds. These data originate in the areas surrounding the Gulf, such as the eastern and southeastern Arabia, southern Mesopotamia and the Iranian coastline. The thesis subsequently deals with the description of boats, based on the morphology of boat models as well as ethnographic sources and the availability of building material. The trading commodities which may have overseas origin or are proposed to be traded with distant regions are described in this work as well as the possible interpretation of maritime routes and contacts, based on the distribution of imported materials, pottery and available palaeoclimatic data. This thesis aim is to shed a new light on the question of seafaring and overseas connections during the Ubaid period. Keywords: Ubaid Period, Boats, Trade, Seafaring, Pottery, Persian Gulf, Arabian Neolithic, Iranian Coastline ANOTACE Název práce: Aspekty neolitického mořeplavectví v Arabo-perském zálivu. Autor: Filip Hájek Katedra / Ústav: Masarykova univerzita, Filozofická fakulta, Ústav archeologie a muzeologie, Pravěká archeologie Předního Východu Vedoucí magisterské práce: Dr. Phil. Maximilian Wilding Abstrakt: Tato diplomová práce je zaměřena na podstatu mořeplavectví a námořních styků v Arabo-perském zálivu během šestého a pátého tisíciletí př.n.l. a spojuje dostupná data vztahující se k mořeplavectví, jako paleoklimatické podmínky, distribuce lokalit, importovaných materiálů a nálezů týkajících se lodí. Tyto data pocházejí z oblastí obklopujících záliv, jako východní a jihovýchodní Arábie, jižní Mezopotámie a pobřežní oblasti Íránu. Teze se současně zabývá i popisem lodí a to na základě morfologie modelů lodí, etnografických zdrojů a dostupnosti stavebního materiálu. Obchodní komodity, jenž mohou mít zámořský původ nebo jsou považovány za zboží obchodované se vzdálenými oblastmi, jsou rovněž popsány v této práci, stejně jako možné interpretace námořních cest a styků vyplývajících z distribuce importovaných surovin, keramiky a dostupných paleoklimatických dat. Tato teze má za úkol poskytnout nový pohled na mořeplavectví a zámořských kontaktů během Obejdského období. Klíčová slova: Obejdské období, Lodě, Obchod, Mořeplavectví, Keramika, Perský záliv, Arabský neolit, Íránské pobřeží ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Phil. Maximilian Wilding for his guidance and his inspiring ideas that helped my research, as well as for reviewing my thesis. I would also like to thank whole team of the Centre of Prehistoric Archaeology of the Near East for their support. Further I would like to extend special thanks for personal consultations, discussions and literature to Zuzana Wygnańska, PhD.(University of Warsaw), Prof. Frans Wiggermann (VU University Amsterdam), Mgr. Inna Mateiciucová, Ph.D (Masaryk University Brno) and Dr. Hans Georg K. Gebel (Free University of Berlin). I would also like to thank Mgr. Hana Kubelková for the help with the language corrections and my friends and family for patience and support. CONTENT 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Methodology ............................................................................................................... 2 2. GEOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................... 3 2.1. Geomorphology .......................................................................................................... 3 2.2. Evolution of sea levels ................................................................................................ 4 2.3. Climate and wind patterns .......................................................................................... 5 3. CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE OF COASTAL REGIONS AROUND THE GULF ......... 7 3.1. Southern Mesopotamia ............................................................................................... 7 3.2. Arabian Coastline ....................................................................................................... 9 3.3. Iranian Coastline ......................................................................................................... 9 3.4. Ubaid in the Gulf ...................................................................................................... 12 3.4.1. Pottery on the Arabian coast ................................................................................. 12 3.4.2. Ubaid Ware ........................................................................................................... 13 3.4.3. Red Coarse Ware ................................................................................................... 14 4. MARITIME TRADE ....................................................................................................... 15 4.1. Distribution of Mesopotamian material culture along the Arabian coast ................. 15 4.2. Trading commodities ................................................................................................ 16 4.2.1. Invisible and assumed trade items ......................................................................... 16 4.2.2. Bitumen ................................................................................................................. 17 4.2.3. Marine products..................................................................................................... 19 4.2.4. Obsidian ................................................................................................................ 21 4.2.5. Floral remains ........................................................................................................ 21 4.2.6. Pigments ................................................................................................................ 22 4.2.7. Copper ................................................................................................................... 23 4.2.8. Semi-precious stones ............................................................................................. 24 5. WATER TRANSPORT ................................................................................................... 25 5.1. Boat-related finds ...................................................................................................... 27 5.2. Watercraft ................................................................................................................. 28 5.2.1. Reed craft .............................................................................................................. 30 5.2.2. Frame boats ........................................................................................................... 32 5.2.2.1. Skin boats .......................................................................................................... 32 5.2.2.2. Wooden boats .................................................................................................... 33 5.2.2.2.1. Availability of wood in southern Mesopotamia ............................................ 34 5.2.2.2.2. Monoxylons ................................................................................................... 34 5.2.2.2.3. Planked boats ................................................................................................ 36 5.3. Motive power ............................................................................................................ 37 5.4. Processing of bitumen ............................................................................................... 38 6. DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................. 39 6.1. Boat models .............................................................................................................. 39 6.2. Boats of the lower Gulf ............................................................................................. 41 6.3. Maritime routes and overseas voyages ....................................................................