Guagnin, M;
Breeze, P;
Shipton, C;
Ott, F;
Stewart, M;
Bateman, M;
Martin, L;
... Petraglia, M; + view all
(2020)
The Holocene Humid Period in the Nefud Desert: Hunters and Herders in the Jebel Oraf Palaeolake Basin, Saudi Arabia.
Journal of Arid Environments
, 178
, Article 104146. 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104146.
Preview |
Text
Martin_ORF_landscape_resubmission_27Jan_clean.pdf - Accepted Version Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Archaeological surveys and excavations in the Jebel Oraf palaeolake basin, north-western Saudi Arabia, have identified a well-preserved early- to mid-Holocene landscape. Two types of occupation site can be distinguished: nine small and ephemeral scatters from single occupation phases on the slopes of sand dunes and three hearth sites indicative of repeated occupation on palaeolake shorelines. In addition, 245 rock art panels, 81 cairns, and 15 stone structures were recorded. This diverse dataset provides an opportunity to reconstruct occupation patterns and changes in landscape use. A particularly important site, Jebel Oraf 2, documents two episodes of lake high stands at ca. 6500 BC and 5300 BC, flooding parts of the locality. Neolithic pastoralists likely occupied the site after the end of the wet season, when the terrain was dry. Earlier sites are located in dune embayments some 7–14 m above the shore of the palaeolake. These locations are consistent with hunting strategies identifiable in the rock art that suggest wildlife was ambushed at watering places. Later rock art at Jebel Oraf also documents the hunting of wild camel in the Iron Age. The lithic industries documented in the Jebel Oraf basin support arguments of repeated contact with Levantine populations.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Holocene Humid Period in the Nefud Desert: Hunters and Herders in the Jebel Oraf Palaeolake Basin, Saudi Arabia |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104146 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104146 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Neolithic, Pastoralism, Palaeolake, Rock art, Landscape, Saudi Arabia |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology > Institute of Archaeology Gordon Square |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10092818 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
