Laser ablation strontium isotope analysis of human remains from Harlaa and Sofi, eastern Ethiopia, and the implications for Islamisation and mobility

Material cosmopolitanism: the entrepot of Harlaa as an Islamic gateway to eastern Ethiopia

“…Strontium isotope analysis of human teeth from three Muslim burials from Harlaa suggest varied origins. The upper burial from a double grave (HAR-C)-a child aged 2.5-3.5 years at death-has strontium isotope ratios in deciduous teeth that are indistinguishable from the general Harlaa range (Pryor et al 2020), indicating that the infant and pregnant mother had lived in the area. The lower burial, a child aged 4.5-6.5 years at death, has strontium isotope ratios that are also indistinguishable from the local Harlaa range.…”

“…The lower burial, a child aged 4.5-6.5 years at death, has strontium isotope ratios that are also indistinguishable from the local Harlaa range. A third single burial (HAR-D), another child aged 2.5-6.5 years at death, has a different strontium isotope ratio, suggesting that they were non-local (Pryor et al 2020).…”

“…A third single burial (HAR-D), another child aged 2.5–6.5 years at death, has a different strontium isotope ratio, suggesting that they were non-local (Pryor et al . 2020).…”

Marine Shell Working at Harlaa, Ethiopia, and the Implications for Red Sea Trade

“…Several areas have been excavated including a mosque (A), a workshop complex (B), cemeteries (C and D), a house with associated industrial/kitchen facility (E), an extensive building complex, probably with a civic function (F), and a cluster of stone (Fig. 2) (Insoll et al 2016(Insoll et al , 2017Khalaf & Insoll 2019;Gaastra & Insoll 2020;Pryor, Insoll, and Evis 2020;Insoll forthcoming). Twenty-seven AMS dates have been obtained, indicating occupation between the mid-sixth and fifteenth centuries (Table 1).…”

Local Ceramics from the Islamic Trade Center of Harlaa, Eastern Ethiopia: Markers of Chronology and Contacts

“…However, evidence for butchery patterns noted at other Islamic period sites such as Barbar in Bahrain (Bangsgaard, 2001), Tell Tuneinir in northeast Syria (Loyet, 1999), and Gözlükele in Turkey (Omar, 2017), including severing of the shoulder joint by chopping through the humeral capitus or neck of the scapula, severing the elbow joint by chopping through the distal trochlea of the humerus, or chopping through the distal tibia were all found in the Harlaa faunal assemblage (see Gaastra & Insoll, 2020, p. 202-203). When considered together with the other evidence for the presence of Muslims, such as burial according to Islamic rites (Pryor et al, 2020) and mosques (Insoll et al, 2021), it is plausible to associate the identification of Halal diet with Islam in the Harlaa community.…”