(PDF) Neolithic settlement pattern and environment evolution along the coast of the northern UAE: the case of Umm al-Quwain UAQ

Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies Volume 49 2019 Papers from the fifty-second meeting of the Seminar for Arabian Studies held at the British Museum, London, 3 to 5 August 2018 Seminar for Arabian Studies Archaeopress Oxford Orders for copies of this volume of the Proceedings and all back numbers should be sent to Archaeopress Publishing Ltd, Summertown Pavilion, 18–24 Middle Way, Oxford OX2 7LG, UK. Tel +44(0)1865-311914 Fax +44(0)1865-512231 e-mail

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Preston & Adrian G. Parker Summary New data on the Neolithic occupation of the northern UAE coast were collected during the 2017–2018 excavations at the shell- midden site of UAQ36. Although so far limited to a fifth-millennium occupation, this data can be contextualized within the broader research programme of the French Archaeological Mission in the Emirate of Umm al-Quwain. When compared to the previously excavated Neolithic sites of UAQ2 (last third of the sixth–beginning of the fourth millennium) and Akab (second third of the fifth–beginning of the fourth millennium), this new data can be used to discuss the nature of the Neolithic occupation along the UAE Gulf coast, which overall attests a good and recurring adaptation of the human communities to the changing surrounding environment. Keywords: Arabia, Neolithic, shell-midden, palaeoenvironmental exploitation, coastal subsistence 1. Introduction Three sites were excavated: Akab, UAQ2, and UAQ36. While they provide different results regarding the modes The surveys and soundings conducted since 2011 in of occupation along the Gulf coast during the Neolithic the Emirate of Umm al-Quwain by one of the teams of period, they are all stratified, spatially organized, and the French Archaeological Mission to the United Arab comprise the same types of structures. Emirates, in collaboration with the Department of With these data in hand, is it possible to specify Tourism and Archaeology of Umm al-Quwain, led to the what types of occupation/habitat one is dealing with? identification of seventeen new sites of Neolithic age (Fig. If it is not possible to give clear-cut answers, the 1). To date, the number of Neolithic sites located within comparison between these three sites allows some the Umm al-Quwain territory thus amounts to more working hypotheses to be put forward, which can be than twenty,1 and all are shell-middens. These middens useful to understand site organization at the regional can vary significantly from one to another, from surface scale, involving short-lived foraging or shell-processing deposits to well-stratified layers, and also in terms of sites as well as places of longer-term dwelling. A simple their surface size and the volume of shells in the deposit. foraging or shell-processing site can be defined as an The cultural identification of these sites relies on area where a single species of shell or syntrophic species the presence of distinct, diagnostic artefacts (Ubaid from the same biotope (sensu Rivas 1964) was consumed potsherds, arrowheads, lithic tools, specific types of after fishing, resulting in a very limited shell deposit. ornaments, net sinkers). 2. New data on the fifth-millennium 1 Sites UAQ1 and UAQ2 were discovered by C.S. Philipps (2002). Site human occupation: the site of UAQ36 UAQ269 corresponds to point 69 of Boucharlat et al. (1991). Site UAQ70 corresponds to Ramlah RA6 (Uerpmann & Uerpmann 1996). Both were visited several times by the French team and new diagnostic Neolithic UAQ36 is located 1 km north-north-east of the sixth- items were discovered. Site Ra3 (1996) is now completely destroyed. to fifth-millennium site of UAQ2, near the ancient 224 Sophie Méry et al. Figure 1. A map of the Neolithic sites, Umm al-Quwain. The location of the drilled core (L54) is indicated with an asterisk in the sabkha at the foot of UAQ36. entrance of Umm al-Quwain’s large lagoon. It was The general stratigraphy in section, one below the surveyed in 2011, with limited excavation undertaken topmost accumulation of recent, loose sand (SU 1801), in 2013 (unpublished), and more extensive excavation in consists of a series of layers which generally comprises 2018 (Fig. 2). alternating seashell-rich layers and cleaner sand lenses. In Area I (the top of the dune), a stratigraphic The earliest occupation, corresponding to SU 1841a, excavation was conducted in Sector 1 (6 m2). The three was identified at a depth of c.1.8  m from the current main sections of the excavation were studied and drawn dune surface, sitting above a massive aeolian sand (Sections 4, 5, 6; Fig. 3). Aligned with the eastern edge of accumulation (SU 1841b). SU  1841a appears to be part the excavation, a deep test trench was opened (Trench of an early phase of human activity at the site, together 1), starting 1.2 m north of the excavation area. The three with SU  1839 and SU 1840. Interestingly, SU 1839 is resulting sections were also studied and drawn (Sections distinguished by a different kind of sand, more greyish 1, 2, 3; Fig. 3). Two other small test trenches were and particularly hardened. Another change in the sand opened in Area II located on the dune’s western slope, characteristics can be seen above SU 1818, where the where concentrations of shells were observed, one with dominant colour of the sediments turns from a pale predominant Marcia sp. shells (Trench 2), the other with orange to a light brown. Saccostrea cucculata as the main species (Trench 3). Both Above SU 1839, a thick, clean sand deposit (SU trenches revealed the absence of anthropogenically 1838) marks the only possible longer interruption influenced stratigraphy below the surface. in the anthropogenic stratigraphic sequence, which Neolithic settlement pattern and environment evolution along the coast of the northern UAE 225 Figure 2. A site map of UAQ36 showing the location of the stratigraphic excavation trench and the test Trenches 1, 2, and 3. 226 Sophie Méry et al. Figure 3. Sections from the UAQ36 Neolithic site. Yellow-orange indicates cleaner sand deposits, nuances introduced to make interfaces more evident. Pattern fills indicate seashell-rich layers, with different seashell density. Greyscale background fills indicate ash-rich layers. Black indicates post holes (PH). Neolithic settlement pattern and environment evolution along the coast of the northern UAE 227 otherwise appears to represent continuous occupation. The highly erratic deposition rate of wind-blown sand has to be considered and encourages caution about this observation. Within the upper part of the sequence, a few layers consisting of denser and more extended accumulations of seashells, with a large quantity of highly fragmented fish also occur (from earlier to more recent: SU 1818, 1816, 1814,1810,1803). The extension of these levels is remarkable, as they could also be traced over a long portion of Trench 1’s sections (see below). A few structural remains were identified, sometimes only visible in the sections (see post holes PH 1828 and PH 1847 in Fig. 3/Section 5). The only exception is the occupation level SU 1810 above the clean sand of SU 1811. Four post holes were identified, cut through SU 1811 and filled with Marcia sp. shells, fallen from the overlying layer SU 1810 after the posts’ removal (post holes SU 1828, 1829, 1830, 1831). This suggests that some sort of shelter (or other type of architectural structure) was erected during the occupation associated with SU 1810’s shell accumulation. Significantly, another three post holes associated with SU  1810 are visible in the sections of Trench 1: SU 1844, SU 1845, and SU 1846. These can thus be associated with those mentioned above in the reconstructed plan of the level (Fig. 4). SU 1810 is further characterized by the presence on its surface of three ash lenses related to domestic burning activity (Fig. 4). Despite several blackened lenses being present throughout the sequence, only five actual fireplaces were identified. The matrix of the excavation is illustrated in Figure 5. In Trench 1, the study of the sections enabled the tracing of the northward continuation of the stratigraphic sequence identified in Sector 1, mainly regarding the most consistent layers mentioned above (SU 1818, 1816, 1814, 1810, 1803). The trench extends to the northern edge of the dune, where all ancient layers are interrupted. All layers display roughly horizontal deposition, with no evidence of an ancient dune slope. At least on the northern side, therefore, no dune build- up occurred after the ancient occupation, or it was subsequently eroded. A first radiocarbon date was obtained in 2011 from Figure 4. A plan of SU1810, one of the most articulate a Marcia sp. bivalve shell found at the surface of UAQ36. occupation levels at the UAQ36 Neolithic site. It gave an uncalibrated age of 6135 ± 24 yr BP which, 228 Sophie Méry et al. although out of context, triggered interest in a more detailed investigation of the site. Charcoal collected in 2013 from layer 2b, which corresponds to the bottom of the superficial layer SU 1802, gave an uncalibrated age of 5770 ± 35 yr BP. In 2018 large pieces of charcoal were found within the excavated stratigraphy, which is to date a very rare occurrence in the excavated Neolithic shell- middens of Umm al-Quwain. The earliest occupation reached so far at the site (SU 1840) could thus be dated 5667 ± 24 yr BP (uncalibrated) (Fig. 6). Preliminary observations of the stratified faunal remains indicate the predominance of very small fish, probably numerous needlefish (Belonidae), mullet (Mugilidae), and seabream (Sparidae). The catches do not generally exceed 100–150  g. Fishing was probably carried out in the surrounding shallow waters of the lagoon. Although a complete detailed study of these remains is necessary, fishing seems to have remained a secondary activity at the site, where lagoon mangrove swamp shells (Marcia sp., Terebralia palustris, Saccostrea cuccullata), and crabs (Portunus segnis and Scylla serrata) prevail. Archaeological artefacts from UAQ36’s excavated stratigraphy are scarce. One single shell scraper made from a Callista ericina valve was found in SU 1810 (Fig. 7/A). The corpus of lithic artefacts consists of twenty items. Despite their low number and their scattered distribution (both spatially and stratigraphically), they can provide interesting information. The largest Figure 5. A matrix of site UAQ36, 2018 excavations, with a schematic indication of ecofact frequency. Neolithic settlement pattern and environment evolution along the coast of the northern UAE 229 C age 14 F14C Unmodelled Modelled ΔR Sample name Lab code and material BP ±   ± cal BC (1 σ) cal BC (2 σ) cal BC (1 σ) cal BC (2 σ)   ± MAMS 35678 UAQ36 SU 5574 25 0,5 0,0016 4447-4367 4455-4356 4448-4371 4456-4356     1819/104 charcoal UAQ36 SU P 17769 1819/104 M1 5946 15 0,477 0,0009     4445-4328 4455-4161 68 91 Marcia sp. UAQ36 SU P 17770 1819/104 M2 5943 17 0,477 0,001     4439-4308 4450-4106 68 91 Marcia sp. P 17771 UAQ36 SU 1836 M1 5980 15 0,475 0,0009     4482-4428 4508-4394 13 36 Marcia sp. UAQ36 SU1836 M2 P 17772 17 0,475 0,001     4482-4427 4507-4395 13 36 Marcia sp. 5977 MAMS 35679 UAQ36 SU 5667 24 0,494 0,0015 4520-4463 4545-4456 4514-4461 4541-4456     1840/104 charcoal Figure 6. Radiocarbon dates from UAQ36’s charcoal samples and Marcia sp. shells collected in January 2018 (Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie gGmbH, Manheim, 2018). concentration of lithic items comes from SU 1827, with available material. The technical behaviour can thus be six pieces, other levels include between one and three qualified as expédiante, or even opportunist. The reuse pieces only (SU 1802, 1808, 1825, 1809, 1827, 1813, 1818, of certain lithic items, with recutting, and even their 1819, 1836, 1839). Fire marks were identified on five new exploitation (in the case of a core) is also attested. pieces (SU 1813, 1819, 1827, 1839), in two cases associated This over-exploitation of raw materials is explained by with fireplaces (SU 1819, 1827). The assemblage can be their scarcity in the proximity of the site. Nevertheless, divided into four categories: three cores (Fig. 7/D), six several materials were used: radiolarite, flint, chert, flakes, three tools, among which are two pièces esquillées and chalcedony. Over-exploitation of raw materials (Fig. 7/C), and eight splinters. The majority derives from and expédiantes lithic techniques represent further debitage (85% of the assemblage, among which 30% indicators of the status of the site. are flakes, 15% tools, and 40% splinters). Interestingly, Additional finds come from the surface. These complete operational chains are not represented at include a soft-stone cylinder bead of the ‘Akab type’ UAQ36, but a set of elements (such as a cortical flake) (Fig. 7/B), a type of artefact appearing around 4300 indicative of the various phases of debitage testify cal. BC at Akab, 10 km from UAQ36 and known in the that lithic workshops were present in situ. No hammer fourth millennium as well (Charpentier & Méry 2008: was discovered at UAQ36, but the use of the soft direct 130) (see Fig. 9). Interestingly, this bead is unfinished, percussion is certain. as an accidental breakage likely occurred during its The presence of cores allows considerations to be manufacture. This clearly shows that this type of made about the technical processes employed during bead was also being manufactured at UAQ36 and was, the debitage. No specific or standardized preconceived therefore, not exclusively produced at Akab. In Umm plan seems to be involved. The state of exhaustion al-Quwain, a bead of this type was also recovered at of the pieces is so advanced that one can speak of a Ramlah RA2 (Uerpmann M 2003: fig. 3), and another one real doggedness on the raw material. The frequency at UAQ69. of incipient cones and the very basic management The results of the excavations conducted at UAQ36 of the cutting, only based on surface management, show that the occupation phases were brief and not are testimony to the intention of over-exploiting the very intense, the status of the site thus appearing to be 230 Sophie Méry et al. Figure 7. Artefacts from UAQ36: A. shell scraper (SU 1810); B. ‘Akab’ type soft- stone unfinished broken bead (surface); C. pièce esquillée (SU 1808); D. core (SU 1818); E. flint arrowhead (Level 6) (drawings: C. Gallou [C and D] and G. Devilder [E]). that of a temporary campsite. The excavation, however, Gulf constantly rose until 6000 BC, when it reached its only opened a limited ‘window’ in the UAQ36 area, maximum at +2/+3 m above current sea level (Lambeck and one cannot exclude that longer and more intense 1996; Sanlaville & Dalongeville 2005; Berger et al. occupations took place at or near the site, including 2013; Parker et al. 2018). After this event of maximum deeper in the same stratigraphic sequence. transgression, sea level gradually lowered, reaching present-day levels around 3000 BP. 3. Palaeoenvironmental data For the development and morphological modification of the UAQ lagoon over the last 6000 years, To provide a background against which the discussion the reference work of R. Dalongeville provides details of can be developed, a brief introduction of the the evolution of the sand spit bordering it (Boucharlat et palaeoenvironment is necessary, concerning sea-level al. 1991; Dalongeville, Prieur & Bernier 1998; Sanlaville change and the Umm al-Quwain lagoon formation/ & Dalongeville 2005; Bernier et al. 1995). evolution. During the late glacial, lines of parallel mega-dunes, During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) much of oriented south-west–north-east, with wide interdunal the Gulf was dry. Between 20,000 and 14,000 BP sea level depressions were emplaced (Atkinson et al. 2012; Preston was 120 m lower than at present and the Gulf was free et al. 2015). At UAQ36 the core of the mega linear dune from marine influences (Lambeck 1996; Parker et al. was dated between 15,000 and 10,000 BP (Atkinson et al. 2018). By 14,000 BP the Straits of Hormuz had opened 2012) and the same dune ridge at UAQ2 between 16,000 up as a narrow waterway and by 12,500 BP marine and 10,000 BP. incursion into the central basin of the Arabian Gulf With the progressive rise of the sea level, had started. Because of the hypsometry of the Gulf, the these interdunal depressions were flooded with a rate of horizontal transgression was especially rapid +3  m maximum transgression reached at around (Lambeck 1996; Parker et al. 2018). Between 12,000 and 6000 cal. BP so that the rapid rise in sea level together 6000 BP, the sea transgressed more than 1000 km into with the dominant north-west Shamal wind and the the Gulf, at times inundating more than 1 km/yr. Since south-west–north-east dominant longshore drift, the end of the LGM, the mean sea level in the Arabian resulted in the formation of the khors and lagoons along Neolithic settlement pattern and environment evolution along the coast of the northern UAE 231 the whole coast of the UAE; the Umm al-Quwain lagoon BC (Lézine et al. 2002; 2010). Interestingly, Rhizophora is the largest of them (Bernier et al. 1995; Goudie, Parker is present in Umm al-Quwain together with Avicennia & Al-Farraj 2000). in the UAQ36 core at 155 cm. Today the mangrove at The ongoing palynological study of a core drilled Umm al-Quwain no longer contains this species (Sainz in the sabkha at the foot of UAQ36 (see Fig. 1, L54) Ollero & Garcia Anton 1999). Charcoal from both these indicates, despite the small number of samples analysed two mangrove taxa was also identified by Tengberg so far, an evolution of the flora that highlights deep (2005) from Bronze and Iron ages contexts at Tell Abraq, environmental changes between the mid-seventh and and from late pre-Islamic graves at ed-Dur — sites that mid-fifth millennia BC. border the southern part of the UAQ lagoon. According In fact, a steppe environment, radiocarbon dated to Lézine et al. (2010: 422), Rhizophora species grow under on samples from this core between 6395 and 6215 cal. more humid conditions than Avicennia and today this BC and between 5464 and 5221 cal. BC, predates or species only occurs in the southernmost part of Arabia coincides with the first levels of human activity at the (southern Red Sea) which is touched by the Indian site of UAQ2 (Fig. 8). The presence of Terebralia palustris Ocean monsoon. The sustainability of Rhizophora trees shells in UAQ2 Levels 15 to 9 is indicative of the presence in the UAQ lagoon until, at least, the late pre-Islamic of mangrove development (Glover 1998; Tengberg 2005) period2 suggests that rainfall was always important in during the second part of the sixth millennium BC. the region. In this environment, Poaceae at first dominate. At the same time, the fact that the mean latitudinal This supports the palynological and phytolith data position of the summer ITCZ and the associated monsoon from Awāfī, where grassland developed during the rains had retreated south from the Arabian Gulf region same period (Parker et al. 2004). Later at UAQ36, from c.4000 BC (Fleitmann et al. 2007; Macumber 2011; Chenopodiaceae developed, indicating possible Parker et al. 2006) suggests that stronger westerly increased saline conditions. Plantago and Artemisia winter rainfall favoured the persistence of short- arrived thereafter, followed by Asteraceae and Centaurea. lived lacustrine conditions at the Waḥalah and Awāfī Rare spores of ferns are attested, and ligneous taxa palaeolake sites (Emirate of Ra’s al-Khaimah) after that (Avicennia) are scarcely developed. Non-polliniferous date (Preston et al. 2015), possibly enhanced by a local microfossils mainly include fungal remains. The orographic effect on precipitation gradients due to the dominant microfossils (HdV-172 and HdV-200) indicate proximity of the Al Hajar Mountains (2015: 4). These dry or ubiquitous substrate. These data overall suggest conditions possibly allowed consistent freshwater a continental dry steppe vegetation, probably with a inputs from fluvial and groundwater systems for coastal restricted wet zone nearby (Aoustin & Leroyer 2018). mangroves to persist even within a regional process of Towards 4442–4261 cal. BC, a clear modification of aridification in eastern Arabia. the pollen record provides evidence of the extension of Avicennia (grey mangrove), accompanied by Rhizophora 4. Discussion (red mangrove). Chenopodiaceae also increase, mainly at the expense of Poaceae, as Cyperaceae remain 4.1. Human occupation in the second part of the stable. Other herbaceous taxa (Artemisia, Asteraceae, sixth millennium BC at UAQ2 Centaurea, Herniaria/Paronychia) also increase, although more moderately. Dinoflagellate cysts and marine To date, the stratified coastal site at UAQ2 attests to the foraminifera (HdV-700) are also present. All these data oldest Neolithic occupation identified in the northern illustrate the development of a mangrove swamp along part of the United Arab Emirates. The archaeological a lagoon which is well fed by marine and freshwater layers developed on the 8 m-high surviving segment of inputs. a Pleistocene mega-dune. The stratigraphic sequence This development of the mangrove swamp at UAQ thus seems slightly earlier than data acquired from sites 2 Rhizophora stands are reported until the thirteenth century AD in the Sultanate of Oman, where it was attributed to an further north, in the Ra’s al-Khaimah mangrove, according to data increase in tropical influences around 4000–3700 cal. from Kush, Periods IV–VII (Tengberg 2005: 42). 232 Sophie Méry et al. Figure 8. A palynological diagram, UAQ36/L54 core. Neolithic settlement pattern and environment evolution along the coast of the northern UAE 233 Lab code Dated material Depth from g.l. (cm) C age 14 cal. BC (1 σ) SacA-51571 wood (indet.) 117 2855 +/- 30 1115-928 SacA-51572 wood (indet.) 170 5365 +/- 30 4328-4059 SacA-51573 wood (indet.) 210 5485 +/- 30 4442-4261 SacA-51574 wood (indet.) 283 6340 +/- 35 5464-5221 SacA-51575 wood (indet.) 586 7405 +/- 40 6395-6215 Figure 9. Radiocarbon dates, UAQ36/L54 core. Ground level (g.l.) for the sabkha is considered to stand at 0 m. a.s.l. (radiocarbon data calibrated with IntCal13 using OxCal 4.3.2). has a depth of 2.20 m and comprises seventeen distinct and Ovis), two thirds of which are goats, and cattle (Bos). archaeological levels. The lowermost, Level 17, consists of Medium-sized dogs (Canis) were also part of the diet a single layer of sparse edible shells (Marcia sp.), which according to M. Mashkour (Mashkour et al. 2016). attests to a first, probably occasional, human occupation Compared to UAQ36, at UAQ2 it is in the levels of the site. Above it, Level 16 was almost sterile. Conversely, of the second half of the sixth millennium that the Levels 15 to 9, radiocarbon dated from 5500/5300 to occupational surfaces and connected layers are best 5000/4800 cal. BC (Marcia sp. shell samples) correspond to preserved and are richest in organic matter. They can be the densest human occupations at UAQ2. The two tombs interpreted as a succession of residential levels which excavated in 2012 (Méry et al. 2016: fig. 4) were dug in always combine, although in different ways, the same Level 14. Based on the descriptions of C. Phillips (2002), it basic features: fireplaces, fireplace clearing refuse, food is possible that some of the graves excavated in the early waste concentrations, waste from tool or ornament 1990s were contemporaneous with our Level 11. production, and post holes (Méry et al. 2016: fig. 7B). From then on, human communities show a high In Levels 15 to 9 the material culture is represented degree of adaptation to the close, as well as to the more in an unparalleled variety for the Neolithic period in distant, environment, and exploited a wide variety of the northern UAE. Moreover, craft making is attested resources. The main four shell species they collected in situ, whether lithic debitage or retouch or shell-bead were Marcia sp., Hexaplex Kusterianus, Saccostrea Cucculata, (Spondylus sp.) production. Among the tools, some are and Terebralia palustris. The knowledge of the lagoon very well made, which is the case for polished axes made and, probably, of the open sea as well, was sufficiently from different types of rock (haematite, granodiorite). elaborate to be recognized as part of a long, prior Stone files were also found. Dozens of tools made from tradition. Overall, twenty-nine different fish families or hard animal material were discovered, such as bone taxa were caught by the fishermen. The majority was points (from caprinid long bones; Méry et al. 2016: fig. caught in the lagoon, such as emperors (Lethrinidae) 2/A), shell scrapers/knives (Callista sp., Méry et al. 2016: and seabreams (Sparidae), but king soldier bream fig. 2/E), and possible shell containers (Acrosterigma sp. (Argyrops spinifer) and little tunas (Euthynnus affinis) and Anadara sp.). The shell and stone ornament artefacts suggest possible fishing in open waters (Mashkour et al. are very varied, mostly attesting to simple chaînes 2016: 204). Of the necessary equipment, only stone net opératoires. However, a perfectly polished carnelian sinkers were recovered at UAQ2 in Levels 15 to 9. sphere (Méry & Charpentier 2013: fig. 4) and a few UAQ2 dwellers also exploited terrestrial food tubular pearls with single perforation testify to more sources available around their camp, as indicated by elaborate practices, but it is not possible to establish the evidence of diversified hunting. Medium to large whether these objects were locally made or were the herbivores (Gazella and Oryx), carnivores (Vulpes and result of regional exchange. Felis), and birds (Aves) are well represented, especially The study of UAQ2’s lithic assemblage from Levels in Levels 11 and 12. The study of Levels 15 to 9 shows 15 to 9 (466 items in total) provides useful elements to that UAQ2’s communities also herded caprinids (Capra characterize the oldest phases of occupation. The largest 234 Sophie Méry et al. concentration of items comes from Level 11 (131 items), However, at UAQ2 finds were numerous in the sixth- the smallest from Level 15 (two items). In addition to millennium levels (Levels 15 to 9), but rarer in the fifth- flakes and splinters, which number in the hundreds, the millennium ones (8 to 4). Levels 8 and 6 correspond stratified assemblage includes a dozen or so cores and to thick sandy accumulations which seem to have some eighty tools, including arrowheads, scrapers, side developed quickly, during a phase of possible climatic scrapers, borers, and pièces esquillées (see Méry et al. 2016). deterioration. The soils are not well discernible, but The variety of tools is thus more evident than at UAQ36 ashy areas and several accumulations, either of small where, moreover, no arrowhead or scraper has been burned stones or grindstone fragments, indicate several found so far. anthropogenic occupations. These levels are not very Only one hammering tool (also used as an abrader) dense in artefacts. The lithic assemblage (twenty cores was found at UAQ2, but the frequency of the elements and 100 tools) do not essentially differ from the earlier resulting from different phases of the knapping indicates ones. One can, however, note the rarity of arrowhead very frequent in situ activities. The type of percussion types previously attested, and the appearance of a new is more varied than at UAQ36 (soft direct, hard direct, type in Level 6 (Fig. 7/E). Scrapers do not change, but pressure). The clastic raw materials used at UAQ2 are they are less numerous. The largest concentration of also more varied, with beige or grey radiolarite, black lithic pieces comes from Level 8, with 275 items; the flint, chalice, chalcedony, agate, carnelian, chrysoprase, smallest from Level 6, with 138 items. phtanite, and sandstone-quartzite. As at UAQ36, they In 2012, the discovery of the portion of a skeleton in seem to have been collected in the form of blocks or small Level 8 confirmed that the UAQ2 necropolis was still in plates on primary deposits (some items have cortex). use at the time. Unlike UAQ36, some chaînes opératoires for lithic tools Levels 4 and 5 show a remarkable density of edible can be fully reconstructed at UAQ2 (such as the bladelet shells, including well-laid seashell ‘beds’ and pockets chaîne opératoire), but not those for the arrowheads (Méry and lenses as well. Within this complex accumulation, et al. 2016: figs 2/C–D and 8/A) and scrapers (2016: fig. one can occasionally distinguish small single species 2/B), for which only the ultimate retouching is visible, concentrations (e.g. broken and burned Terebralia with corresponding retouch splinters. palustris), probably resulting from a single episode (i.e. The knapping is much better organized than at their consumption). UAQ36, but the lack of local deposit of raw material also Marine shells are the predominant component leads to a maximal reuse of lithic cores and products. of these accumulations, with the same four main Only arrowheads and scrapers seem not to have been species as in the previous levels (Marcia sp., Hexaplex reused. Although it is not possible to give details, due to kuesterianus, Saccostrea cuccullata, Terebralia palustris). In the lack of elements corresponding to the first phases of the absence of clearly perceptible hiatuses between the the operational chain, arrowheads and scrapers always shell ‘beds’, and knowing the taphonomic phenomena show a predetermined and standardized debitage. of compaction and deflation inherent to this type of Combined with the use of pressure retouching techniques deposits, it is difficult to choose between the hypothesis on these two categories of tools, this shows the knappers’ of continuous accumulations or that of a series of high technical level, and their probable specialization (in successive deposits linked with episodes of more or less the sense of a technical activity that is not carried out by prolonged human frequentation over an annual cycle. everyone; Averbouh et al. 2006: 326–327). However, the thin sandy lenses which sometimes occur make the hypothesis of cyclic — or even seasonal — 4.2. The fifth millennium BC as a period of deposits more likely. environmental and cultural change Level 5, in an area fairly dense in shells, hosted 4.2.1. Umm al-Quwain UAQ2 — Levels 8–4 the remains of a probably circular structure (only half excavated), with traces of several rearrangements of As mentioned above, archaeological materials from the posts (Méry et al. 2016: fig. 11). This shows that UAQ36’s excavated levels are scarce. This is even more architectural structures could be installed in dense shell evident when compared with the nearby site of UAQ2. accumulation areas and that the differentiation between Neolithic settlement pattern and environment evolution along the coast of the northern UAE 235 residential areas and zones of consumption and waste Remarkably numerous remains of architectural disposal was not necessarily marked on the site. It is in structures were discovered at Akab, with more than 290 Level 5, in connection with this circular structure, that post holes (Méry et al. 2009: 699) located at the base of a new tool and a new type of ornament appear, namely the anthropogenic layers, where these cover the sterile the mother-of-pearl fish hook and the black stone soil. Their density indicates substantial and persistent earring. These two categories of objects are well-known occupation of the site. Definite structure plans could not markers of the Late Neolithic in Oman (Charpentier & be distinguished among these lower post holes. Different Méry 1997; Usai 2018). post-hole density was observed from one area of the site As for the lithic assemblage, one observes in to the other, indicative of the inner organization of the Levels 4 and 5 the absence of the most elaborate tools built-up area. This has a good correspondence with what (arrowheads and scrapers), and a new reduction in the was observed in the sixth-millennium BC levels at UAQ2. number of pieces (110 pieces only), among which 23% At the best estimate, the duration of every ‘residential are tools (mostly pièces esquillées, and a few borers). The episode’ at the site seems to have been significant, and tools are less standardized than in the previous levels, repeated successive occupations occurred. The latter yet they are still slightly more elaborate than on UAQ36. were linked to activities such as Spondylus sp. and Pinctada No human bone was found in Levels 4 and 5. sp. beads manufacture, pearl fishing, and the fishing of In conclusion, the sequence of the fifth-millennium tunas and large trevallies (Beech, Charpentier & Méry BC levels at UAQ2 is marked by clear differences 2017; Lidour et al., in press). Mother-of-pearl fish-hook compared to the most ancient ones. A possible phase manufacture on site was directly linked with this activity. of deteriorating climate and perhaps higher pressure Unlike UAQ2 and UAQ36, dugong (Dugong dugon) vertebras on the natural resources (Levels 8–6) did not prevent and broken ribs are present in good numbers (Beech, human installations on the site, although they look Charpentier & Méry 2017). Marine turtle (Cheloniidae) more tenuous when compared to earlier periods. One bones are rare, while they are not represented at UAQ36. may also observe a growth in the proportion of sea The number of artefacts is greater in the residential bream (Sparidae) indicating that fishing was limited to part of Akab than in the fifth-millennium levels at the shallow areas of the lagoon (Mashkour et al. 2016). UAQ2. Moreover, Spondylus sp. beads at different stages of manufacture and including finished objects, count for 4.2.2. Akab more than a quarter of the almost 1850 objects found in stratigraphic context; they were collected from all the The settlement site of Akab is smaller than UAQ2, and the levels. This indicates the importance and persistence sites are only partially contemporaneous, with overlapping of this activity at Akab, suggesting a probable form of occupation from the second third to the end of the fifth specialization in the production of this type of ornament millennium. Akab only has a preserved level of the second (Charpentier & Méry 2008). The lithic material comprises part of the fourth millennium BC (see Charpentier & less than 300 items, the only tools are pièces esquillées and Méry 2008). Like UAQ2 and UAQ36, the site is located on borers —very few according to V. Charpentier (2008) but a segment of a Pleistocene dune. The sandy and greyish well adapted to the shell-bead work. Pièces esquillées are archaeological levels mainly contain shells of the same present in Levels 6 to 8 at UAQ2. four main species witnessed at UAQ36 and UAQ2, plus fish bones and crabs. Caprinids and dogs were exploited (Beech, 5. Conclusions Charpentier & Méry 2017). The frequency of the mud crab (Scylla serrata) and the mud creeper snail (Terebralia UAQ2, specifically in the earlier phases of its occupation, palustris) indicates the presence of a mangrove near the site. is the only site among those discussed here that comes Under a sterile surface layer, six anthropogenic layers were close to the wealth and wide variety of remains known excavated and the virgin soil reached. No major hiatus (in from the Neolithic settlements of the Ja’alan and of the form of sterile sand deposits) was identified between the Muscat area in Oman, albeit without reaching it. the occupational levels; the depth of the anthropogenic The most varied activities, which can be sometimes layers does not exceed 35 cm. complex, specialized, dangerous, or requiring particular 236 Sophie Méry et al. capacities (skills, strength, long training, etc.), are UAE. Conversely, on and near the geological deposits practised at UAQ2 in the sixth-millennium cal. BC levels. only primary products and very few tools from various Currently available data indicate a rather long duration periods were found. Small Neolithic bifacial pieces, as residence time at UAQ2 (Mashkour et al. 2016), at least well as bladelets and laminar flakes, are of the same type equivalent to other sites investigated along the coast found at UAQ2 and Akab and at other coastal sites along of the Sultanate of Oman (Biagi & Nisbet 2006), which the Gulf coast of the UAE (Charpentier et al. 2017). may correspond to winter and spring occupation. Based The site of UAQ2, the only one among those on the mode of subsistence and residence of the UAQ2 discussed here that seems to have been occupied from communities, and on the mentioned evidence of craft the second part of the sixth to the beginning of the activities, one can infer a complex economic and social fourth millennium BC, testifies to significant economic organization, likely entailing work distribution, given and social changes from Level 8 onward. Perhaps in the apparent presence of specialized craftsmen. conjunction with the beginning of an environmental At this stage of the palynological study, the presence deterioration (aridification), subsistence strategies, of a mangrove swamp cannot be fully confirmed for dwelling patterns, and technical activities change, a the sixth millennium, but the presence in Levels 15 to trend that appears to be even more marked from Level 9 of UAQ2 of Terebralia palustris — together with Marcia 5 onwards. sp., Hexaplex kuesterianus, and Saccostrea cuccullata with About 1 km from UAQ2, starting in the second half of imprints of mangrove tree pneumatophores — shows the fifth millennium, UAQ36 was repeatedly occupied, that it existed at the time. without perceptible discontinuity, but only shows (in the The occupation of Akab, UAQ2, and UAQ36 during all so far excavated layers) evidence of non-intense and short or part of the fifth millennium is strongly indicated by occupations. No contemporaneous grave was discovered. stratigraphic evidence, combined with the study of the The picture is, therefore, that of a smaller campsite than material and several radiocarbon dates. Furthermore, UAQ2 or Akab, even though diversified hunting and the presence in stratified contexts of mother-of-pearl herding are attested. The lithic industry, conversely, only fish hooks, ‘Akab type’ pearls, and black stone earrings reveals an expédiante or opportunistic tool production, fits well with what is known of the second half of the with no evidence of diversified techniques. fifth millennium in eastern Arabia (Cleuziou & Tosi Akab appears as a more active residential site, 2007; Méry & Charpentier 2013). According to the first characterized by more numerous activities, and is more palynological results near UAQ36, a mangrove swamp oriented towards open sea exploitation than UAQ2 or developed locally at the time. UAQ36, as suggested by active pelagic fish catching The logistics of these (and other local) communities, in the open sea and pearl fishing. The lithic industry, in other words, the set of methods and means connected without having the opportunistic character of UAQ36, is with the organization of the different activities, was consistent with the UAQ2 assemblage of the second half partly inherited from the sixth-millennium predecessors of the fifth millennium. (who, in the case of UAQ2, frequented the same site). As an To summarize, the three Neolithic coastal sites example, one can mention the raw materials’ — hard and discussed in this work have proved to be stratified and clastic rocks — procurement strategy, which entailed the spatially organized. Although they contain the same exploitation of different and variously located sources, kind of structures, one can nevertheless distinguish a such as beaches, wadis, and primary geological deposits. certain degree of variation in the settlement type, which In particular, it seems that the three sites discussed appears to be directly linked to the degree and nature of here obtained clastic materials at Jebel Ma’taradh, the exploitation of natural resources in the surrounding located 30 to 40 km from the coast. This deposit is the environment. only one known to date that contains true chalcedony, In light of the accurate, stratigraphic excavation and also agate (including zoned agate), carnelian, and methods, paired with systematic dry-sieving of the more or less finely grained black flint (Charpentier et removed sediments (with additional test-sieving with al. 2017). All these types of rock are found in the form 1 mm meshes, or by flotation in the case of UAQ2), the of finished products in the archaeological sites of the data collected from the excavation of a more or less Neolithic settlement pattern and environment evolution along the coast of the northern UAE 237 large portion of these sites can be considered as truly Atkinson O.A., Thomas D.S., Goudie A.S. & Parker A.G. representative of their nature. 2012. Holocene development of multiple dune In conclusion, and in spite of minor comparative generations in the northeast Rub’al-Khali, United biases between the three excavations — taphonomy; Arab Emirates. The Holocene 22/2: 179–189. excavation extension; methods of excavation, sampling Averbouh A., Brun P., Karlin C., Méry S. & Miroschedji P. and recording — we think that the intensity of the de (eds). 2006. Spécialisation des tâches et société. Actes human occupation can be validly estimated in the de la Table Ronde organisée par les Thèmes Transversaux research area discussed here and that this provides 2 et 3 de l’UMR 7041-ArScan (MAE-R. Ginouvès, Nanterre), valuable insight on the nature of Neolithic coastal sites. Oct. 2003/Oct. 2004. (Techniques et Cultures, 46). Paris: This is further encouragement, given the well-known Maison des Sciences de l’Homme. difficulties in achieving reliable dating for the region Beech M.J., Charpentier V. & Méry S. 2017. Evidence for and the intrinsic difficulties of interpretation in a dune deep-sea fishing and cultural identity during the environment where archaeological sites can be quickly Neolithic period at Akab Island, Umm al-Qaiwain, buried or severely deflated. United Arab Emirates. Pages 331–338 in M. Mashkour & M.J. Beech (eds), Archaeozoology of The Near East 9. Acknowledgements Oxford/Philadelphia: Oxbow Books. Berger J.F., Charpentier V., Crassard R., Martin C., Davtion G. & López-Sáez J.A. 2013. The dynamics Our most warm-hearted thanks go to H.H. Shaykh of mangrove ecosystems, changes in the sea level Saud bin Rashid bin Ahmed bin Rashid bin Ahmed bin and the strategies of Neolithic settlements along Abdullah bin Rashid bin Majid Al Mualla, Member of the the coast of Oman (6000–3000 cal. BC). Journal of Supreme Council of the UAE and Ruler of the Emirate of Archaeological Science 40: 3087–3104. Umm al-Quwain, for inviting the French Archaeological Bernier P., Dalongeville R., Dupuis B. & De Medwecki V. Mission to the UAE to conduct research in Umm al- 1995. Holocene shoreline variations in the Persian Quwain. We gratefully thank H.E. Alyaa Alghafli, Head Gulf: Example of the Umm al-Qowayn lagoon (UAE). of the Department of Tourism and Archaeology (DTA) of Quaternary International 29: 95–103. Umm al-Quwain, Ms Rania Kannouma, Director of the Biagi P. & Nisbet R. 2006. The prehistoric fisher- Museum of Umm al-Quwain, and Mr Miqdad Aboelgreed, gatherers of the western coast of the Arabian Sea: A archaeologist at the DTA of Umm al-Quwain, for their case of seasonal sedentarization? World Archaeology constant and invaluable support to the mission’s 38/2: 220–238. activities. We are grateful to H.E. Ludovic Pouille, French Boucharlat R., Dalongeville R., Hesse A. & Millet M. 1991. Ambassador to the UAE, Prof. Nicolas Grimal, President Occupation humaine et environnement au 5e et au of the Commission des fouilles archéologiques françaises 4e millénaire sur la côte Sharjah-Umm al-Qaiwain à l’étranger, Ms Sabine Sciortino, Director, Cooperation (U.A.E.). Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 7/2: 93–106. and Cultural Action advisor, and Mr Christian Velud, Charpentier V. & Méry S. 1997. 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L’évolution des Arabia and Iran. (British Foundation for the Study of espaces littoraux du golfe Persique et du golfe Arabia Monographs 20). Oxford: Archaeopress. Authors’ addresses Sophie Méry, CNRS, UMR 6566 CReAAH, Université de Rennes, Campus de Beaulieu, Bât. 24–25, Laboratoire Archéosciences, Avenue du Général Leclerc – CS 74205, 35042 Rennes Cedex – France. e-mail

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Michele Degli Esposti, UMR 6566 CReAAH, Université de Rennes, Campus de Beaulieu, Bât. 24–25, Laboratoire Archéosciences, Avenue du Général Leclerc – CS 74205, 35042 Rennes Cedex – France. e-mail

David Aoustin, UMR 6566 CReAAH, Université de Rennes, Campus de Beaulieu, Bât. 24–25, Laboratoire Archéosciences, Avenue du Général Leclerc – CS 74205, 35042 Rennes Cedex – France. e-mail

Federico Borgi, UMR 6566 CReAAH, Université de Rennes, Campus de Beaulieu, Bât. 24–25, Laboratoire Archéosciences, Avenue du Général Leclerc – CS 74205, 35042 Rennes Cedex – France. e-mail

Claire Gallou, UMR 6566 CReAAH, Université de Rennes, Campus de Beaulieu, Bât. 24–25, Laboratoire Archéosciences, Avenue du Général Leclerc – CS 74205, 35042 Rennes Cedex – France. e-mail

Chantal Leroyer, Ministère de la Culture, UMR 6566 CReAAH, Université de Rennes, Campus de Beaulieu, Bât. 24–25, Laboratoire Archéosciences, Avenue du Général Leclerc – CS 74205, 35042 Rennes Cedex – France. e-mail

240 Sophie Méry et al. Kevin Lidour, UMR 7041 Arscan, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Maison de l’Archéologie et de l’Ethnologie, 21 allée de l’Université, 92023 Nanterre; and UMR 7209 AASPE – Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Bât. 56, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France. e-mail

Susanne Lindauer, Radiocarbon Dating Klaus-Tschira-Archaeometrie Zentrum Institut der CEZ Archäometrie gGmbH C4, 8 68159 Mannheim, Germany. e-mail

Gareth W. Preston, Human Origins and Palaeoenvironments Research Group, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK. e-mail

Adrian G. Parker, Human Origins and Palaeoenvironments Research Group, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK. e-mail