Derek Kennet

Phytolith analysis from the archaeological site of Kush, Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Despite the wealth of archaeological sites and excellent conditions for preservation, few phytolith investigations have been undertaken from the Arabian Gulf region. The results from the Sasanian and Islamic archaeological tell of Kush, Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, are presented. Kush is situated just inside the Gulf on an important trade route. The occupation sequence dates from the 4th century A.D. until the 13th century A.D., recording the development of the site in the Sasanian period, followed by the arrival of Islam in the 7th century A.D. and the final abandonment of the site in the late 13th century when the nearby site of al-Mataf (Julfar) began to develop closer to the present day coastline. All the samples analyzed contained abundant phytoliths (short cells, elongated cells, and groups of elongated cells) of various types. They included date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), papillae (possibly from barley (Hordeum)), and hair cells possibly from species of canary grass (Phalaris spp.). Some researchers have suggested that groups of elongated cells may indicate the presence of irrigation in semiarid environments. The present results for this class of phytoliths appeared to imply that intensive irrigation was unlikely to have taken place around Kush.

Excavations at Al Sufouh, a Third Millennium Site in the Emirate of Dubai

pits and their contribution to our understanding of thirdmillennium burial rites, and the role cremation plays therein, that make the site so significant. Of primary importance is the unique collection of 15 complete bronze daggers and a blade ax. The tomb also yielded a significant assemblage of pottery and beads, a cylinder seal, and four zoomorphic amulets, although only one soft-stone vessel was found. The surrounding settlement area is insubstantial and, unfortunately, badly disturbed, but it illustrates the striking contrast between carefully built stone tombs and seemingly ephemeral occupation areas that seems to be typical of many Umm alNar sites.

On the eve of Islam : archaeological evidence from Eastern Arabia.

What was the archaeological context of the rise of Islam in Arabia? The author uses new work from Eastern Arabia to show that the advent of Islam coincided with the decline of the Sasanian hegemony and one of Arabias least affluent periods in 3500 years of history.

Pottery as Evidence for Trade in Medieval Cyrenaica

The use of pottery distributions to identify trade contacts is one of the most important tools in the archaeologists repertoire. Recent examples of such studies, concentrating on the classical period in Cyrenaica, have produced evidence which provides valuable new insights into changing trade patterns for which there is precious little historical information. There is, at present, a debate over Cyrenaicas trading contacts during the classical period in which Fulford has proposed a definite bias towards trade with the eastern Mediterranean (Fulford 1989) whilst Lloyd has challenged the lack of emphasis given to Italian imports (Lloyd forthcoming). Abulafias reassessment of the Pisan bacini has likewise stimulated debate on the development of trade contacts, this time in the medieval period (Abulafia 1985). Such studies rely upon two points; the first is a well-documented corpus of material and the second is a detailed background knowledge of the wares and fabrics in general circulation to which the corpus can be related. On both points medieval archaeologists are clearly still at a disadvantage to those working on the classical period, and an attempt to understand Cyrenaicas medieval trade contacts from its ceramic assemblages cannot therefore achieve the same detail as, for example, Fulfords work (1989) has done. Nonetheless, an examination of the material which is available, and a discussion of its significance, is the intention of this paper.

The Early Historic Brick Temple at Chandor (ancient Chandrapura), Goa

During February 2000 excavations were carried out at Chandor (Salcete Taluka, South Goa District) as part of a collaboration between the Archaeological Survey of India and the Society for South Asian Studies. Part of the excavations involved re-investigating, recording, and studying the brick temple at Chandor Kotta which had been excavated in 1930 and in 1974, but never published. This paper presents a preliminary outline of the results of the work on the temple during the 2000 season.

Fulayj – a late Sasanian fort on the Arabian coast

Abstract Archaeological evidence for a Sasanian presence in the ‘Uman region of Eastern Arabia is sparse. Recent excavations at the site of Fulayj in Oman have, however, revealed it to be a Late Sasanian fort, the only securely dated example in Arabia, or indeed on the western shores of the Indian Ocean more generally. AMS dating supports the ceramic chronology proposed for the site, demonstrating occupation until the Islamisation of South-eastern Arabia in the early seventh century AD, and also briefly into the very Early Islamic period. Fulayj fort provides new insights into Sasanian military activities during this crucial period of Arabian history.

Two Early Historic Brick Temples at Paithan in Maharashtra

Between 1996 and 1999 the Archaeological Survey of India and the Society for South Asian Studies conducted joint excavations at the early historic and medieval site of Paithan in the Aurangabad District of Maharashtra.(1) Part of the work involved the cleaning and study of two early historic brick temples that were first excavated by Syed Yusuf in 1937 but which have never been fully recorded or published. Whilst a full description and analysis must await the forthcoming final report,(2) this paper presents the most significant details of the plans and construction of the two temples and outlines their architectural development throughout the time that they were in use, which is believed to have been between approximately the 5th and the 8th century AD. Paithan