The camel remains from site HD-6 (Ra's al-Hadd, Sultanate of Oman): An opportunity for a critical review of dromedary findings in eastern arabia

Abstract

Bone remains of camel (Camelus dromedarius) have been found in several sites of south-eastern Arabia, dating from the Late Holocene period to the Bronze Age, and generally attributed to wild animals. The new camel finds from the Early Bronze Age site of Ra's al-Hadd (HD-6) -dated with radiocarbon technique between 2890-2580 BC -are the oldest camel evidence in the Sultanate of Oman. This discovery represents an opportunity for a critical review of all available data in the Arabian Peninsula. These remains are important because widen our knowledge about camel spreading trajectory and raise an obvious question about its domestication or wild status. This study contributes to the debate about camel status and the relationship between late prehistoric communities and this animal. 209The Camel Remains from Site HD-6 (Ra's al-Hadd, Sultanate of Oman)

The Early Iron Age collective tomb LCG-1 at Dibbā al-Bayah, Oman: long-distance exchange and cross-cultural interaction

“…The Iron Age II also witnessed the final stage of dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) domestication in South-eastern Arabia. Over the previous millennia, these animals were, in fact, only used as a source of meat, milk and hair (Curci et al 2014;Magee 2015: 271-72). Now, dromedaries were also used as pack animals to transport goods overland, opening up a new network of inland trade routes that crossed the Arabian Peninsula towards the Levant and the Mediterranean (Magee 2014: 204-13 & 226), eventually fostering the emergence of a new class of 'desert lords' (Loreto et al 2019).…”

The role of wild terrestrial animals in late prehistoric societies of south‐eastern Arabia: new insights from Saruq al‐Hadid

“…The equifinality of traditional methods of distinguishing between wild and domestic zooarchaeological populations, such as changes in size and demography, is clearly demonstrated, meaning these methods may not be able to provide evidence as conclusive as had previously been argued (e.g. Curci, Carletti & Tosi, : 215; Uerpmann M. & Uerpmann, : 315; Zeder et al., : 141, Zeder, : 11597). The evidence from Saruq al‐Hadid suggests the existence of a nuanced and complex relationship between humans and wild animals during the Bronze and Iron Ages that has not previously been documented in the region.…”

“…The evidence from Saruq al‐Hadid suggests the existence of a nuanced and complex relationship between humans and wild animals during the Bronze and Iron Ages that has not previously been documented in the region. These factors therefore remain to be more deeply explored in south‐eastern Arabia and integrated into future studies of local human‐animal interactions, most particularly in terms of developing an understanding of the domestication of the dromedary camel (Curci, Carletti & Tosi, ; Uerpmann M. & Uerpmann, ).…”

Genetic origin of goat populations in Oman revealed by mitochondrial DNA analysis

“…Archaeological results indicate that animal husbandry appeared in Oman at approximately 7,000–6,500 cal BC and that the Omani goat might have been domesticated during the Neolithic period, between 5,500 and 3,200 cal BC [ 9 , 10 ]. This scenario might be confirmed using ancient domestic goat DNA to clarify and help elucidate the history of goats in the Oman region.…”

“…Nonetheless, evidence of the ancient presence of goats based on ancient rock engravings and paintings of domesticated goats, likely from the fifth and fourth millennia BC (7,000–6,000 years ago), can be found in many caves and rocks throughout Oman [ 7 , 8 ]. According to archaeological research, goats were already present in the faunal assemblages of several sites in Oman toward the end of the seventh millennium BC [ 9 , 10 ]. Regardless, the history of goats in Oman and throughout the Arabian Peninsula is complex, and very little information is currently available.…”