The settlement patterns of north‐eastern and south‐eastern Arabia in late antiquity

Abstract

The east Arabian settlements in antiquity were never large urban sites. However, they were the main centres of the communities that inhabited that area, interfacing between the nomadic and sedentary societies. A study of the distribution and characteristics of these sites reveals different, complementary functions. They were organized in local networks forming the essential structure of the settlement pattern and delineating the territories of communities having their own political identity.

Late pre‐Islamic burials at Mleiha, Emirate of Sharjah (UAE)

“…Far-reaching connections in all directions are well documented by numerous finds from Mleiha (e.g. Benoist, Mouton & Schiettecatte 2003;Mouton 1999Mouton , 2009.…”

“…The late pre-Islamic city of Mleiha in the Central Region of the Emirate of Sharjah (UAE) is outstanding with regard to its size, architecture, organisation and other features (Mouton 1999(Mouton , 2008(Mouton , 2009Benoist, Mouton & Schiettecatte 2003). It has a long history of archaeological research starting in the 1970s (e.g.…”

“…Madhloom 1974) and continuing to the present day. Various teams have excavated at Mleiha over the years (Jasim 1999;Mouton 2009;Haerinck & Overlaet 2011a, 2011b. Results obtained during this long period of research indicate that the importance of Mleiha was mainly based on its integration into the early trans-Arabian trade network.…”

“…This is remarkable because, since the beginning of excavations, the existence of large cemeteries, clearly separated from the domestic areas, were observed (Mouton 2008). In the graveyards along the southern and eastern borders of the ancient city there are different types of grave buildings, including monumental tombs constructed with great care, which are surrounded by different kinds of simpler tombs (Mouton 1999(Mouton , 2008(Mouton , 2009). Over the years, a large number of these graves have been excavated.…”

Oman and late Sasanian imperialism

“…Now that more and more archaeological work is being carried out in south‐east Arabia—and especially along the Batinah coastal plain in Oman—it is very important that we sort out the foundations of historical interpretation (see e.g. Mouton, ; Mouton & Schiettecatte, ; During & Olijdam, ; Kennet, Deadman, & al‐Jahwari, ). This article will attempt to provide a fairly thorough reassessment of the historical sources on late Sasanian Oman, in large part to provide archaeologists working in south‐east Arabia with a clearer idea of what historical sources actually say and what models we can suggest for interpreting them.…”