Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-pfhbr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-11T17:22:58.291Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Khor Ile-Sud, Qatar: The Archaeology of Late Bronze Age purple-dye production in the Arabian Gulf

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2014

Christopher Edens
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

During six seasons between 1976 and 1982 the Mission Archéologique Française à Qatar, directed by Jacques Tixier, investigated a number of prehistoric, protohistoric and Islamic sites across the Qatar peninsula. The pre-Islamic archaeological investigations concentrated on the area of al Khor on the north-east coast, where various members of the team excavated several sites with ‘Ubaid pottery and a number of undated cairn burials (Tixier 1980, Inizan 1988, Midant-Reynes 1985). As part of this team the author investigated two second-millennium BC sites during the three winter seasons of 1980–2. This report gives an account of one of these sites; a separate article will consider issues arising from the other site.

The site is located on a small island at the margin of the intertidal zone within the lagoon of Khor Shaqiq, on the north-east coast of Qatar (Fig. 1). Under present conditions a mangrove swamp lies off the east and south-east end of the island, open tidal mud-flats extend around its northern shore, and the deeper water of the bay lies to the west and south-west. Outcrops of Eocene limestone form the island core, around which lie cemented mid-Holocene beach-deposits and uncemented Holocene beach-lags (Fig. 2 inset). The latter, formed as thin alternating beds of silicate and skeletal carbonate sands, provide broad and fairly level expanses between the island shoreline and the limestone outcrops; these flats are the favoured location of human occupation. Uncemented sands, forming a chenier spit, front the south side of the island. The island lacks a permanent source of water and supports a very thin cover of xerophytic species of the Chenopodiaceae, Boraginaceae, Plumbaginaceae and Gramineae families.

Type
Research Article
Information
IRAQ , Volume 61 , 1999 , pp. 71 - 88
Copyright
Copyright © The British Institute for the Study of Iraq 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Armstrong, J. 1982. Pottery from Tell Ahmed al-Mughir and Tell Ajamat. In Uch Tepe I, ed. Gibson, M., pp. 151–6. Baghdad: Ministry of Culture and Information.Google Scholar
Armstrong, J. 1993. Pottery. In Nippur III, Kassite Buildings in Area WC-1, ed. Zettler, R., pp. 67–80. Oriental Institute Publications 111. Chicago: Oriental Institute.Google Scholar
Bibby, T. G. 1971. Looking For Dilmun. New York: Alfred Knopf.Google Scholar
Bigalke, E. 1973. The exploitation of shell fish by coastal tribesmen of the Transkei. Cape Provincial Museums Annals 9: 159–75.Google Scholar
Bird, D., and Bird, R. 1997. Contemporary shellfish gathering strategies among the Meriam of the Torres Strait Islands, Australia: testing predictions of a central place foraging model. Journal of Archaeological Science 24: 39–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blanc, A. C. 1958. Residui di manifatture di porpore a Leptis Magna e al Monte Circeo. In Il porto romano di Leptis Magna, ed. Bartoccini, R., pp. 187–210. Rome: Bollettino del Centro Studi per la Storia dell' Architettura 13.Google Scholar
Boehmer, R. 1982. Ringe aus kassitischen Gräbern. Baghdader Mitteilungen 13: 31–49.Google Scholar
Boehmer, R. 1987. Uruk, Kampagne 38, 1985, Grabungen in J-K/23 und H/24-25. Ausgrabungen in Uruk-Warka Endberichte 1. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern.Google Scholar
Boehmer, R. 1988. Keramik der mittelbabylonischen Zeit aus dem Grabungen in Eanna, dem Gareus-Bezirk und dem Irigal zu Uruk. Baghdader Mitteilungen 19: 465–7.Google Scholar
Boehmer, R. 1991. Die Keramik, Mittelbabylonische Zeit. In Uruk, Kampagne 35–37, 1982–1984, Die Archäologische Oberflachenuntersuchung (Survey), ed. Finkbeiner, Uwe, pp. 100–2. Ausgrabungen in Uruk-Warka Endberichte 4. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern.Google Scholar
Boehmer, R., and Dämmer, H.-W. 1985. Tell Imlihiye, Tell Zubeidi, Tell Abbas. Deutsches Archäologisches Institut Abteilung Baghdad. Baghdader Forschungen 7/Hamrin Report 13. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern.Google Scholar
Bruneau, P. 1969. Documents sur l'industrie délienne de la pourpre. Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique 102: 109–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cassin, E. 1968. La splendeur divine. Paris: Mouton.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Denton, B. 1994. Pottery, cylinder seals, and stone vessels from the cemeteries of al-Hajjar, al-Maqsha and Hamad Town on Bahrain. Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 5: 121–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edens, C. 1987. A Late Second Millennium B.C. Purple Dye Industry in Qatar (Arabian Gulf): Archaeological and Historical Interpretations. Unpublished PhD thesis, Harvard University.Google Scholar
Edens, C. 1994. On the complexity of complex societies: structure, power and legitimation in Kassite Babylonia. In Chiefdoms and Early States in the Near East: the Organizational Systematics of Complexity, ed. Stein, G. and Rothman, M., pp. 209–23. Madison, WI: Prehistory Press.Google Scholar
Eidem, J. 1997. Cuneiform inscriptions. In Hejlund and Andersen 1997: 76–80.Google Scholar
Emperario, J., and Laming, A. 1956. Les sambaquis de la côte méridionale du Brazil. Journal de la Société des Americanistes 45: 5–163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finkbeiner, U. 1985. Uruk-Warka XXXVII, Survey des Stadtgebietes von Uruk I: Durchführung und Ergebnisse des Surveys. Baghdader Mitteilungen 16: 17–58.Google Scholar
Franke, J. 1978. Area WB. In Excavations at Nippur: Twelfth Season, ed. Gibson, M., pp. 53–106. Oriental Institute Communications 23. Chicago: Oriental Institute.Google Scholar
Gasche, H., Armstrong, J., Cole, S. and Gurzadyan, V. 1998. Dating the Fall of Babylon, a Reappraisal of Second-Millennium Chronology. Mesopotamian History and Environment Series II, Memoirs IV. Ghent: University of Ghent and Chicago: Oriental Institute.Google Scholar
Gillespie, R., and Polach, H. 1979. The suitability of marine shell for radiocarbon dating of Australian prehistory. In Radiocarbon Dating, ed. Berger, R. and Suess, H., pp. 404–21. Berkeley: University of California Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Højlund, F. 1986. The chronology of City II and III at Qala'at al Bahrain. In Bahrain Through the Ages: the Archaeology, ed. Khalifa, H. A. al and Rice, M., pp. 217–24. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.Google Scholar
Højlund, F. 1987. Failaka/Dilmun, the Second Millennium Settlements 2: the Bronze Age Pottery. Aarhus: Jutland Archaeological Society.Google Scholar
Højlund, F. 1989. The formation of the Dilmun state and the Amorite tribes. Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 19: 45–59.Google Scholar
Højlund, F. 1993. The ethnic composition of the population of Dilmun. Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 23: 1–8.Google Scholar
Højlund, F., and Andersen, H. H. 1994. Qala'at al-Bahrain 1: the North City Wall and the Islamic Fortress. Jutland Archaeological Society Publication 30 (1). Aarhus: Jutland Archaeological Society.Google Scholar
Højlund, F., and Andersen, H. H. 1997. Qala'at al-Bahrain 2: the Central Monumental Buildings. Jutland Archaeological Society Publication 30 (2). Aarhus: Jutland Archaeological Society.Google Scholar
Inizan, Marie-Louise 1988. Préhistoire à Qatar. Mission Archéologique Française à Qatar 2. Paris: Éditions Recherche sur les Civilisations.Google Scholar
Karmon, N., and Spanier, E. 1988. Remains of a purple dye industry found at Tel Shiqmona. Israel Exploration Journal 38: 184–6.Google Scholar
Kervran, M., Mortensen, P. and Hiebert, F. 1987. The occupational enigma of Bahrain between the 13th and the 8th century B.C. Paléorient 13 (1): 77–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kjaerum, P. 1983. Failaka/Dilmun, the Second Millennium Settlements 1 (1): the Stamp and Cylinder Seals. Aarhus: Jutland Archaeological Society.Google Scholar
Lortet, L. 1884. La Syrie d'aujord'hui. Paris: Hachette.Google Scholar
McCown, D., and Haines, R. 1967. Nippur I. Oriental Institute Publications 97. Chicago: Oriental Institute.Google Scholar
Meehan, B. 1982. From Shell Bed to Shell Midden. Canberra: Australian Insitute of Aboriginal Studies.Google Scholar
Midant-Reynes, B. 1985. Un ensemble de sépultures en fosse sous cairn à Khor (Qatar): étude des rites funéraires. Paléorient 11 (1): 129–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minsaer, K. 1991. Tell ed Der 1985–1987. Les vestiges méso-babyloniens II. La poterie du chantier E3. Northern Akkad Project Reports 6: 41–71.Google Scholar
Moorey, P. R. S. 1985. Materials and Manufacture in Ancient Mesopotamia: the Evidence of Archaeology and Art. BAR International Series 237. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports.Google Scholar
Nashif, K. 1986. The deities of Dilmun. In Bahrain Through the Ages: the Archaeology, ed. al-Khalifa, H. A. and Rice, M., pp. 340–66. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.Google Scholar
Potts, D. 1988. Review of Højlund 1987. Bibliotheca Orientalis 45: 427–33.Google Scholar
Potts, D. 1991. Further Excavations at Tell Abraq, the 1990 Season. Copenhagen: Munksgaard.Google Scholar
Potts, D. 1993. Four seasons of excavation at Tell Abraq (1989–1993). Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 23: 117–26.Google Scholar
Reese, D. 1980. Industrial exploitation of murex shells: purple- and lime-production at Sidi Khrebish, Benghazi (Berenice). Libyan Studies 11: 79–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reese, D. 1987. Palaikastro shells and Bronze Age purple-dye production in the Mediterranean basin. Annual of the British School at Athens 82: 201–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reinhold, M. 1970. History of Purple as a Status Symbol in Antiquity. Collection Latomus 116. Brussels: Latomus.Google Scholar
Reuther, O. 1926. Die Innenstadt von Babylon (Merkes). Wissenschaftliche Veröffentlichungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft 47. BerlinGoogle Scholar
Rosso, J.-C., and Petit-Maire, N. 1978. Amas coquillier du littoral atlantique saharien. Bulletin du Musée d'Anthropologic et Préhistoire de Monaco 22: 79–117.Google Scholar
Salje, Beate 1990. Der “Common Style” der Mitanni-Glyptik und die Glyptik der Levante und Zyperns in der späten Bronzezeit. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern.Google Scholar
Saulcy, F. de 1865. Voyage en Terre Sainte. Paris: Didier.Google Scholar
Stern, E., and Sharon, I. 1987. Tel Dor, 1986, preliminary report. Israel Exploration Journal 37: 201–11.Google Scholar
Stieglitz, R. 1994. The Minoan origin of Tyrian purple. Biblical Archaeologist 57: 46–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M., and Braziunas, T. 1993. Modelling atmospheric 14C influences and 14C ages of marine samples to 10,000 BC. Radiocarbon 35: 137–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M., Pearson, G. and Braziunas, T. 1986. Radiocarbon age calibration of marine samples back to 9000 cal yr. BP. Radiocarbon 28: 980–1021.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M., and Polach, H. 1977. Reporting of 14C data. Radiocarbon 19: 355–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thommeret, J. 1976. Difficultés d'interpretation des dates C14 mesurées à partir des coquilles marines. In Ninth International Congress of Pre- and Protohistoric Sciences, Colloque I, pp. 160–9. Nice.Google Scholar
Tixier, J. (ed.) 1980. Mission Archéologique Française à Qatar 1. Paris: CNRS.Google Scholar
Wilde, W. 1844. Narrative of a Voyage to Madeira, Teneriffe, and along the Shores of the Mediterranean. Dublin: William CurryGoogle Scholar
Zaccagnini, Carlo 1983. Patterns of mobility among ancient Near Eastern craftsmen. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 42: 245–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar