Evidence of Neolithic settlement in the foothills of the Western al‐Hajar Mountains

Abstract

Systematic prospection and excavations in the Rustaq region of northern Oman, approximately 45 km from the coast in the foothills of the Western Hajar Mountains, have revealed an unexpectedly dense record of Neolithic sites. Besides surface scatters of lithic artefacts, excavation at the site of Hayy al‐Sarh recovered two stratified archaeological horizons (AHs). The upper horizon, AH I, contained pierced marine shells that provided an age of the archaeological material of about 6800 to 7500 years cal BP. Typologically the AH I lithic assemblage compares to the Suwayh facies defined at the coast 300 km to the east. Whether the marine shells and cultural affinities point towards exchange with coastal communities or possibly seasonal movement remains an open question at this state of research, but this new evidence for inland Neolithic settlement near Rustaq provides important new data that will help improve our understanding of spatial patterns of Neolithic demographic variability.

New Neolithic sites in the western al‐Hajar mountains

“…However, those from QA 1 and QA 2 are less elongated. Of particular interest are inland sites recently discovered near Rustaq, also in the western al‐Hajar Mountains, which provided nearly identical bifacial points (Bretzke et al, : fig. 3).…”

“…It produced a 14 C age of 5975 ± 35 BP, which was calibrated against Marine13 curve using the OxCal software. To account for the local reservoir effect, a mean value for Δ R of 200 ± 50 years was used (to facilitate comparisons with the results from Hayy al‐Sarh: Bretzke et al, : 110) which resulted in a calibrated age of 4357–4061 cal. BC, 2 sigma range, falling firmly in the Late Neolithic period.…”

The PalaeoEnvironments and ARchaeological Landscapes (PEARL) project: Recent findings from Neolithic sites in Northern Oman

“…Further fieldwork will seek to expand upon the work conducted in the Rustaq region, and extend geomorphological investigations towards the medial and distal parts of the alluvial plain. Bretzke et al (2018) have recently introduced the site and provide details on its archaeology as well as chronology, from which we summarize here. Excavations at the site recovered two archaeological horizons (AH I & II).…”

“…Systematic survey and excavation conducted within Northern Oman during 2018/19 identified Early Holocene and Neolithic surface and stratified sites, including Hayy al‐Sarh in Rustaq (Bretzke et al, ) and IB19 near Ibri (Fig. ).…”

“…Bretzke et al () have recently introduced the site and provide details on its archaeology as well as chronology, from which we summarize here. Excavations at the site recovered two archaeological horizons (AH I & II).…”