Animal economy during the Early Bronze Age in South-East Arabia

Abstract

Animal remains from four Early Bronze Age sites in the UAE and Oman (Hili 8, Tell Abraq, Umm an-Nar and Maysar) are analysed with regard to the animal component of the economies represented. Archaeozoological information from sites at Ra’s al-Jinz and Ra’s al-Hadd (Oman) is used for comparison. The latter sites as well as Umm an-Nar are characterized by a very low contribution of domestic fauna to their subsistence economies. More than 90% (by bone weight) of the analysed faunal remains from these sites derive from marine animals (mostly dugong at Umm an-Nar and turtle at Ra’s al-Jinz). Tell Abraq is intermediate with a contribution of ca 50% from the domesticates, while at the inland sites (Hili 8 and Maysar) domestic fauna provided over 90% of the analysed finds. The wild fauna at all sites corresponds well to the respective environments. The domestic fauna is dominated by cattle at the sites in UAE, while in Oman, sheep and goats were more important. Among these, goat is better represented at all sites. Ass remains are present at all sites with the exception of Umm an-Nar. Most likely they represent domestic donkeys. Dromedary remains are frequent at Umm an-Nar, but are rare or absent at the other sites. There are no indications for domestication of this animal during the Early Bronze Age. Cattle seem to have been used as draught animals in agricultural communities (Hili 8), but potentially also for overland transportation of goods. However, there are no indications for an exchange system which delivered preserved products of marine animals (e.g. dried fish) into the hinterland.