HLO1‐south: An Early Neolithic site in Wadi al‐Hilo (Sharjah, UAE)

Abstract

Site HLO1 (Sharjah, UAE), situated in a particularly favourable geographical position, has provided an extraordinary range of anthropogenic radiocarbon dates, spanning before 8000 to Zero BCE. The Neolithic is represented by finds from the eighth to the fifth millennium BCE. Apart from the dated fireplaces, however, there are almost no typical artefacts of this period. Small stone structures appear to have been early Neolithic graves. A middle Neolithic grave consisted of a large rounded stone heap which was reused as a grave during the Late Bronze Age.The site is interpreted as a campsite of nomadic herders, used throughout the Neolithic period. After a break in the fourth millennium BCE, the site became a Bronze Age smelting site which continued to be settled until the Late Iron Age.

Neonomads: Between Education and Practice

“…17 Embedded within this rich ecosystem is a complex infrastructure of archaeological ruins reminiscent of those found in Mesa Verde National Park, some dating back as far as 8000BCE to the Neolithic and early Bronze Age, where evidence indicates the valley was a central location for copper smelting within the region. 18 Due to these factors, the canyon is frequented by scientists of various disciplines conducting field research and is an ideal location for a shelter. Although we were enamored with the site and focused our efforts there for most of the spring semester, we were ultimately unable to secure permission to install a shelter by our deadline in April, and so were moved by the EPAA to an alternate site, a protected area known as Elebriddi.…”

The PalaeoEnvironments and ARchaeological Landscapes (PEARL) project: Recent findings from Neolithic sites in Northern Oman

“…Existing data from inland sites in SE Arabia (e.g. Kallweit, Beech, & al-Tikriti, 2005;Lemée et al, 2013;Rose et al, 2014;Uerpmann & Uerpmann, 2000;Uerpmann et al, 2013Uerpmann et al, , 2018 suggest repeated phases of occupation of the interior between the ninth and fifth millennium BC, interspersed with phases that lack evidence for human occupation (e.g. Drechsler, 2010;Uerpmann et al, 2013).…”