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Cited by 133Global Maritime and Colonial HistoriesMaritime and Coastal ArchaeologyArchaeology and Historical Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 257 of the 262 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 1 of the 74 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Archaeology of Trade in the Western Indian Ocean, 300 BC–AD 700

Open access
Seland, Eivind Heldaas·2014·Journal of Archaeological Research
DOI 10.1007/s10814-014-9075-7
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Abstract

In the millennium after 300 BC, the western Indian Ocean emerged as a main hub of Old World exchange. Study of this commerce long depended on separate regional archaeologies and a handful of literary sources with Western/Roman bias. A recent surge in scholarly interest has led to a vast increase in data that has fostered a more balanced understanding of the commercial, human, and material aspects of ancient Indian Ocean trade. This review summarizes recent research on the topic and assesses its significance to wider scholarly debates on scale, organization, connectivity, agency, and social cohesion in ancient trade and exchange.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review synthesizes two decades of archaeological research on western Indian Ocean trade (c. 300 BC–AD 700), arguing that it was large-scale, long-lived, multicultural, and not merely Roman or “Indo-Roman” trade. It surveys regional evidence from South Asia, the Persian Gulf, South Arabia, Socotra, East Africa, and the Red Sea, and calls for integrating Indian Ocean data into wider archaeological debates on exchange.

Key findings

  • Recent work shows western Indian Ocean commerce was large-scale, long-lived, and extensive, involving subsistence goods as well as luxuries; older Mediterranean-centric labels such as “Indo-Roman trade” capture only a fraction of it.
  • Arikamedu’s occupation stretched at least from the second century BC to the 10th century AD; Rouletted Ware has been found at approximately 150 sites, including at least 11 outside South Asia; by 2008, 36 South Asian sites had yielded Roman/late Roman amphorae and Mesopotamian torpedo jars.
  • Key ports and nodes include Khor Rori (fourth century BC–fifth century AD), Qana (established first century AD, abandoned early seventh century), Berenike (12 written languages; 7.55 kg of black pepper), and the Hoq cave on Socotra (approximately 250 inscriptions in South Arabian, Indian Brahmi, Ethiopic Geʽez, and Greek, plus a Palmyrene Aramaic tablet dated AD 257–258).
  • Evidence points to multicultural and mobile communities: imported ceramics from Arabia, East Africa/Aksum, Mesopotamia, and India; Mediterranean-style ship timbers and fittings combined with Indian teak and cotton sails; and religion as a possible group marker, including a synagogue at Qana and temples/church at Berenike.

Methods

  • Narrative review and synthesis of research published over the previous 20 years, not new primary excavation or analysis.
  • Regional surveys cover South Asia, the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, South Arabia and Socotra, East Africa, and the Red Sea, with emphasis on the western Indian Ocean and the millennium after c. 300 BC.
  • Draws on archaeological material (ceramics, beads, ship remains, archaeobotany, epigraphy) and includes philology/history only when directly related to material evidence or discussed sites; assesses significance for debates on scale, organization, connectivity, agency, and social cohesion.

Limitations

  • The author states that coverage is limited to the western Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea), with Bay of Bengal and eastern Indian Ocean coverage intentionally limited; emphasis is on the millennium after c. 300 BC; and the work is a review of recent research rather than an analysis of underlying research questions.
  • The author notes that many major ports known from literary sources and many smaller maritime communities remain unidentified; the Arabian Red Sea coast and the African coast south of Egypt (except Adulis) are still virtually unknown; many known sites have been little more than registered; and wreck sites have not yielded identifiable ship remains.
  • The text makes evident that trade volume cannot be quantified, recovered imported pottery would fit within a single ancient vessel, ethnicity is difficult to infer archaeologically, some identifications are tentative, and early East African contact claims have been met with skepticism.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s10814-014-9075-7

Cites

257 of 257 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

1 of 74 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Interpretationreasoning
    § Southern Arabia and Socotra

    These finds now place Socotra as a major node in the pre-Islamic Indian Ocean network.

    “Along with the spectacular epigraphic record of approximately 250 inscriptions from the Hoq cave (Dridi 2002;Robin and Gorea 2002;Strauch 2012;Strauch and Bukharin 2004), these finds now place Socotra as a major node in the pre-Islamic Indian Ocean network.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Dridi 2002 source
    • cites Robin and Gorea 2002 source

      In “Une île étrange” (p. 410), the paper places Socotra on a major maritime exchange route visited by many navigators. Its account of the Hôq finds (p. 409) supports evidence of ancient visitors, but it does not establish the stronger claim that the finds make Socotra a major node in the pre-Islamic Indian Ocean network. (LLM, conf=0.82)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Strauch 2012

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • Rests on an assumption: The crops aloe, Dragon's blood, and frankincense on Socotra were commercially important in antiquity and were almost certainly exploited.
  • Findingcitation
    § Southern Arabia and Socotra

    Imported late Roman Aila/Aqaba amphorae are reported from the German excavations at the Himyarite highland capital of Zafar.

    “Imported late Roman Aila/Aqaba amphorae are reported from the German excavations at the Himyarite highland capital of Zafar (Damgaard 2009, pp. 87-88;Raith et al. 2013)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Damgaard 2009, pp. 87-88

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Raith et al. 2013

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Findingcitation
    § The Red Sea

    Ship fittings from Myos Hormos and timbers from Berenike document that at least some vessels operating out of Egyptian Red Sea ports were of the type common in the Mediterranean.

    “A major breakthrough of the excavations at Egyptian Red Sea ports is that ship fittings from Myos Hormos and timbers from Berenike document that at least some of the vessels operating out of Egyptian Red Sea ports were of the type common in the Mediterranean (Blue 2009;Blue et al. 2011;Sidebotham and Zych 2010, pp. 19-20).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Blue 2009
    • cites Blue et al. 2011
    • cites Sidebotham and Zych 2010, pp. 19-20

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Findingcitation
    § The Red Sea

    Berenike has yielded evidence of 12 written languages, including South Arabian, Palmyrene Aramaic, and Tamil-Brahmi.

    “Berenike has so far yielded evidence of 12 written languages, including South Arabian, Palmyrene Aramaic, and Tamil-Brahmi (Sidebotham 2004;2011, pp. 74-75;Sidebotham and Zych 2010, p. 12).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Sidebotham 2004

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Sidebotham 2011, pp. 74-75 source
    • cites Sidebotham and Zych 2010, p. 12

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Findingcitation
    § The Red Sea

    Maritime activities in Myos Hormos were busiest following the construction of a wharf late in the first century BC or early in the first century AD.

    “Maritime activities in the port were their busiest following the construction of a wharf built of amphorae, earth, rocks, and ceramic debris late in the first century BC or early in the first century AD, (Blue 2011;Peacock and Blue 2006, pp. 67-94).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Blue 2011

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Peacock and Blue 2006, pp. 67-94

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 21
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 13

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingnone given
    § Southern Arabia and Socotra

    Pre-Islamic port sites on the Arabian side of the Red Sea, with the exception of Aden, have not been securely identified, much less surveyed or excavated.

    “but thus far pre-Islamic port sites, with the exception of Aden, which is completely covered under later habitation, have not been securely identified, much less surveyed or excavated.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation
    § The Red Sea

    Surface ceramics at Adulis show a range of vessels from the Mediterranean world, with an emphasis on the late period, and Aila/Aqaba-type amphorae also found at Qana, Zafar, and Aksum.

    “Surface ceramics show a range of vessels from the Mediterranean world, with an emphasis on the late period, and amphorae of the Aila/Aqaba type which also are found at Qana, Zafar, and Aksum.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation
    § The Red Sea

    Late Roman/early Islamic amphorae originate from kilns in Aila (Aqaba) in present-day Jordan and are reported from sites along the Red Sea, Southern Arabia, and India.

    “late Roman/ early Islamic amphorae that have been shown to originate from kilns in Aila (Aqaba) in present-day Jordan (Parker 2009;Whitcomb 2001).These are reported from sites along the Red Sea (Damgaard 2009, pp. 87-88;Peacock and Blue 2007a, pp. 79-108, 130;Pedersen 2008;Raith et al. 2013;Wilding 1989), Southern Arabia (Sedov 2010b, pp. 465-466) and India (Tomber 2009, p. 48).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Parker 2009

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Whitcomb 2001

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Sedov 2010b, pp. 465-466

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation
    § The Red Sea

    Berenike experienced peaks of operation in its early days, in the first century AD, and again in the fourth and fifth centuries, with limited evidence of activity before or after, and was abandoned by the mid-sixth century.

    “The port experienced peaks of operation in its early days, in the first century AD and again in the fourth and fifth centuries, with limited evidence of activity before or after.The site was abandoned by the mid-sixth century (Sidebotham 2011;Sidebotham et al. 2008, pp. 171-175).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Sidebotham 2011 source
    • cites Sidebotham et al. 2008, pp. 171-175

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationnone given
    § Introduction

    In the centuries around the turn of the first millennium AD, Socotra was a crossroad of commerce based on the monsoon winds.

    “In the centuries around the turn of the first millennium AD, however, it was a crossroad of commerce based on the monsoon winds.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § Southern Arabia and Socotra

    Ancient Qana likely was the main port of the early South Arabian kingdom of Hadramawt, which was arguably the main supplier of frankincense in the ancient world.

    “The site likely was the main port of the early South Arabian kingdom of Hadramawt, which was arguably the main supplier of frankincense in the ancient world.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sedov 2010b, pp. 453-454

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationnone given
    § Abstract

    A recent surge in scholarly interest has led to a vast increase in data that has fostered a more balanced understanding of the commercial, human, and material aspects of ancient Indian Ocean trade.

    “A recent surge in scholarly interest has led to a vast increase in data that has fostered a more balanced understanding of the commercial, human, and material aspects of ancient Indian Ocean trade.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationnone given
    § Scholarly origins

    After the turn of the millennium, it increasingly makes sense to speak of archaeology in the western Indian Ocean as an integrated field, where the different regional archaeologies of the Indian Ocean rim, including the very significant parts controlled by the Roman Empire, give their share to a holistic understanding of the ancient exchange systems based on the monsoon winds.

    “After the turn of the millennium, it increasingly makes sense to speak of archaeology in the western Indian Ocean as an integrated field, where the different regional archaeologies of the Indian Ocean rim, including the very significant parts controlled by the Roman Empire, give their share to a holistic understanding of the ancient exchange systems based on the monsoon winds.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § South Asia

    Francis (1991) demonstrated Arikamedu's important role in the production of Indo-Pacific beads, highlighting its eastward connections along and across the Bay of Bengal and the diversity of trading links.

    “Francis (1991) demonstrated the site's important role in the production of Indo-Pacific beads, thus highlighting its eastward connections along and across the Bay of Bengal and the diversity of trading links.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Francis (1991) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation
    § South Asia

    Rouletted Ware may have been inspired by Hellenistic-period pottery encountered in Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf.

    “although it may have been inspired by Hellenistic-period pottery encountered in Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Magee 2010 source
    • cites Ray 1994, pp. 59-61 source
    • cites Salles 2002, pp. 197-199

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

    South Arabia and Northwest India likely played key roles in connecting the Red Sea-Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf-Arabian Sea corridors of exchange.

    “Thus South Arabia and Northwest India likely played key roles in connecting the Red Sea-Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf -Arabian Sea corridors of exchange.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § Southern Arabia and Socotra

    Khor Rori had a much longer chronology than previously thought, starting in the fourth century BC and extending to the fifth century AD.

    “The new studies have established a much longer chronology for the settlement than was previously thought, starting in the fourth century BC and extending to the fifth century AD”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Avanzini 2002
    • cites Avanzini 2008

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Avanzini and Sedov 2005

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Introduction

    The western Indian Ocean was never a barrier to contact; rather it is the proximate and natural medium of communication for people living along its rim.

    “The discovery of the cave sanctuary on the seemingly remote island provided not only an evocative reminder of the multicultural nature of ancient world trade, but also emphasized that the western Indian Ocean was never a barrier to contact; rather it is the proximate and natural medium of communication for people living along its rim.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § South Asia

    The presence of imported pottery in South Asia demonstrates a multiplicity of routes, ports, and carriers and the durability and longevity of commercial contacts with the western Indian Ocean throughout the Indian Early Historic period (c.300 BC-AD 500) and into the early medieval period.

    “Their presence demonstrates not only a multiplicity of routes, ports, and carriers but also the durability and longevity of commercial contacts with the western Indian Ocean throughout the Indian Early Historic period (c.300 BC-AD 500) and into the early medieval period.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § South Asia

    Finds at Pattanam include building structures, a wharf, a log boat, imported Mediterranean glass, Roman Terra Sigillata pottery, and a range of amphorae, all dating to the first century BC through the second century AD.

    “Along with locally produced pottery and beads, finds include building structures, a wharf, a log boat, imported Mediterranean glass, Roman Terra Sigillata pottery, and a range of amphorae (Mediterranean transport jars), all dating to the first century BC through the second century AD.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Cherian 2011

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Selvakumar et al. 2009

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Tomber 2009

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § South Asia

    Rouletted Ware, first identified at Arikamedu, has since been found at approximately 150 sites, including at least 11 outside South Asia.

    “The widely distributed Rouletted Ware, first identified at Arikamedu but since found at approximately 150 sites, including at least 11 outside South Asia”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Schenk 2006, pp. 142-146

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § South Asia

    Arikamedu had a much longer and more complex history of occupation than the original excavators had believed, not confined to the first two centuries AD, but stretching at least from the second century BC to the 10th century AD.

    “It became clear that the site had a much longer and more complex history of occupation than the original excavators had believed, not confined to the first two centuries AD, but stretching at least from the second century BC to the 10th century AD”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Begley et al. 1996, pp. 8-40

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationnone given
    § Abstract

    In the millennium after 300 BC, the western Indian Ocean emerged as a main hub of Old World exchange.

    “In the millennium after 300 BC, the western Indian Ocean emerged as a main hub of Old World exchange.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation
    § The western Indian Ocean and the archaeology of exchange

    Curtin's model of the trading diaspora has come under criticism for early modern trade because it presupposes a homeland that is lacking in the Jewish, Armenian, and Islamic networks operating in the same region in later history.

    “Recently, however, it has come under criticism with regard to early modern trade on the grounds that it presupposes the existence of a homeland that is lacking in the Jewish, Armenian, and Islamic networks operating in the same region in later history (Aslanian 2011).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Aslanian 2011 source

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisenone given
    § The Red Sea

    Adulis was the main coastal settlement of the kingdom of Aksum and was occupied from the first millennium BC to the early Islamic period.

    “Adulis, on the coast of present-day Eritrea, was the main coastal settlement of the kingdom of Aksum and was occupied from the first millennium BC to the early Islamic period.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisenone given
    § The Red Sea

    Egyptian Berenike was established in the third century BC as part of the Ptolemaic effort to access Red Sea resources.

    “Egyptian Berenike was established in the third century BC as a part of the Ptolemaic effort to access Red Sea resources.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § The western Indian Ocean and the archaeology of exchange

    If Indian Ocean trade was important to the people taking part in it, then it had an impact on the lives of people living all over the ancient world, from the Mediterranean to Africa, India, and arguably even China.

    “If Indian Ocean trade was important to the people taking part in it, then it had an impact on the lives of people living all over the ancient world, from the Mediterranean to Africa, India, and arguably even China.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationcitation
    § The Red Sea

    The finds from the Aksumite capital reinforce the impression of the Aksumite kingdom as an actor in ancient Indian Ocean exchange from the first century AD onward, with increased importance in the fourth to early seventh centuries.

    “the finds reinforce the impression long prevalent in the scholarly literature of the Aksumite kingdom as an actor in ancient Indian Ocean exchange from the first century AD onward but with increased importance in the fourth to early seventh centuries.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Munro-Hay et al. 1989
    • cites Phillipson 1998
    • cites Wilding 1989

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § The western Indian Ocean and the archaeology of exchange

    Recent sociological and anthropological scholarship is rapidly moving beyond ethnicity as a prime identity marker and also tries to address other kinds of groupness.

    “Recent sociological and anthropological scholarship, however, is rapidly moving beyond ethnicity as a prime identity marker and also tries to address other kinds of “groupness” (Brubaker 2005(Brubaker , 2009)).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Brubaker 2005 source
    • cites Brubaker 2009 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationnone given
    § The western Indian Ocean and the archaeology of exchange

    Many sites on the Indian Ocean rim make equal or, in some cases, even more sense when approached from a maritime perspective compared with a hinterland point of view.

    “arguably many sites on the Indian Ocean rim make equal or, in some cases, even more sense when approached from a maritime perspective compared with a hinterland point of view.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § The western Indian Ocean and the archaeology of exchange

    Maritime networks can more readily be reconstructed based on concepts such as centrality, gravity, and proximal point analysis, whereas land-based commodity flows are hampered by people often choosing apparently suboptimal routes for safety or transaction costs.

    “While network analyses of land-based flows of commodities are hampered by the fact that people are known to often choose an apparently suboptimal route of travel for reasons of safety or transaction costs (Seland 2012a), maritime networks can more readily be reconstructed based on concepts such as centrality, gravity, and proximal point analysis (Knappett et al. 2008;Rivers et al. 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Seland 2012a

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Knappett et al. 2008 source

      Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

    • cites Rivers et al. 2013 source

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § The western Indian Ocean and the archaeology of exchange

    Indian Ocean commerce was large scale, long-lived, and extensive in terms of the places, vessels, people, and economic assets involved.

    “Nevertheless, there is no doubt anymore that Indian Ocean commerce was large scale, long-lived, and extensive in terms of the places, vessels, people, and economic assets involved.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § The western Indian Ocean and the archaeology of exchange

    Network analysis might be a way to address long-standing questions in western Indian archaeology on the relationship between long-distance cross-ocean navigation and short-distance coastal cabotage.

    “Network analysis might be a way to address long-standing questions in western Indian archaeology on the relationship between long-distance cross-ocean navigation and short-distance coastal cabotage.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § The western Indian Ocean and the archaeology of exchange

    Well-worn labels such as 'Indo-Roman trade' or 'Rome's trade with the East' allow us to grasp only a fraction of what ancient Indian Ocean exchange was about.

    “The research described above makes it clear that well-worn labels such as “Indo-Roman trade” or “Rome’s trade with the East” allow us to grasp only a fraction of what ancient Indian Ocean exchange was about.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
29 of 29

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Southern Arabia was a main supplier of frankincense and myrrh.

    “The region was a main supplier of frankincense and myrrh.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The crops aloe, Dragon's blood, and frankincense on Socotra were commercially important in antiquity and were almost certainly exploited.

    “These crops were commercially important in antiquity and were almost certainly exploited.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    All major ports taking part in Indian Ocean trade would also be home to a foreign diaspora.

    “it seems safe to assume that all major ports taking part in Indian Ocean trade also would be home to a foreign diaspora.”
3 of 3

Citations

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

5 of the 262 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 78

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Metadata

Authors
Seland, E. H.
Affiliations
University of Bergen (NO)
Corresponding author
Seland, Eivind Heldaas
ORCID
Seland, Eivind Heldaas
Venue
Journal of Archaeological Research
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2014-04-02
Volume
22
Issue
4
Pages
367-402
ISSN
  • 1059-0161 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-7756
DOI
10.1007/s10814-014-9075-7
OpenAlex
W2170118542
Cited by
133
References
262
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1
FWCI
182.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Archaeological Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Global Maritime and Colonial Histories
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Archaeology and Historical Studies
Keywords
Western Indian Ocean, ancient trade, maritime trade, trade networks, connectivity, agency, social cohesion, Roman sources, pre-Islamic trade

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