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An overview is offered of the development of research-both archaeological and epigraphic-on the inhabitants of the northern Horn during the first millennium BC. Initially, reconstructions of this period placed considerable emphasis on links with southern Arabia and tended to group those into a single cultural category that was designated 'Pre-Aksumite'. It is now argued that long-distance contacts were much less pervasive, being largely restricted to the élite, and that other aspects of life-including much material culture and subsistence economydisplayed strong local continuity from earlier times. Similarly, it is argued that interpretation of the epigraphic evidence as indicating a single 'Pre-Aksumite' state called D'MT is unjustified.Résumé On fait une revue du développement de la recherche archéologique et epigraphique sur les habitants des régions septentrionales de la Corne de l'Afrique pendant le premier millénaire avant notre ère. Autrefois, les interprétations tendaient à mettre en exergue les relations avec l'Arabie du sud, et considérer toutes ces populations comme appartenant à un seul groupe culturel 'pré-aksoumite'. On préfère aujourd'hui soutenir que les contacts de longue distance étaient pour la plupart limités aux élites, et que les autres dimensions de la vie sociale -les outils lithiques, la culture matérielle, et les moyens de subsistance notamment -présentent des continuités appréciables avec les périodes antérieures. On considère de même qu' il n'y a pas de raison pour interpréter les textes épigraphiques comme indicatifs d'un seul état 'pré-aksoumite' nommé D'MT.

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The site at Eldon's Seat (fig. 1) lies on the side of a shallow valley cut into the Kimmeridge clay bedrock. Occupation began probably in the 7th century B.C. or earlier, at a time when the ceramic assemblage was based upon Late Bronze Age traditions, and continued with interruptions until the 2nd century A.D. Three major periods have been isolated: during period I (Late Bronze Age style pottery) and period II (haematite-coated ware) a series of circular huts were built against the downhill side of a sporadically growing lynchet. The huts were occupied by farming communities who were also engaged in making armlets from the local Kimmeridge shale. Period III buildings have not been identified in the excavated area, but Durotrigan and Roman pottery, which typifies this phase, has been recovered from the uppermost layers of the lynchet.The finds from the excavations will be deposited in the Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, Dorset.

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