Thoughts on Neolithic fishing-based economies in coastal Eastern Arabia

Lidour, Kévin

doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2023.101489

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…Apart from Shimal, Rafaq 2 and Kalbāʾ 4, scombrids are almost absent from all the assemblages. This is quite surprising when considering their considerable exploitation during the Neolithic in various areas of the Arabian Gulf such as at Dosariyah, Delma and Akab (Lidour, 2023; Lidour et al, 2020; Lidour & Beech, 2019; Uerpmann & Uerpmann, 2018). This feature has already been pointed out by Uerpmann and Uerpmann (2005, p. 114), but its causes remain greatly unknown.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Bronze to Iron Age fishing economy at Kalbāʾ 4 (Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates)

Lidour

Beech²,

Eddisford

et al. 2023

Arab Archaeol Epigr

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This paper represents a study of archaeological fish remains retrieved from the excavations conducted by C. S. Phillips between 1993 and 2001 at Kalbāʾ 4 (Emirate of Sharjah, UAE). Kalbāʾ 4 is a major coastal site that was continuously occupied from the Umm an‐Nar period to the Iron Age (c. 2700–600 BCE). The site is of particular interest regarding monumental architecture, pottery studies and exchange networks across Arabia and its neighbouring regions from the Bronze Age onwards. A corpus of about 5500 fish remains provides information on fishing economies during the entire occupation of the site. Data regarding fish complement results previously obtained from the study of other fauna including marine molluscs, sea turtles, terrestrial and marine mammals. They allow us to document a fishing‐based economy at Kalbāʾ 4. The results highlight the exploitation of a quite limited range of fish taxa associated mostly with reef areas (groupers, trevallies, snappers, spangled emperors, King soldierbreams), brackish waters (mullets) and the open sea (scombrids). The techniques seem to have mainly involved the use of baited lines from boats, fishing nets and possibly cage traps. The discussion includes comparisons with the other main fish studies conducted for the Bronze Age and the Iron Age in Eastern Arabia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Bronze to Iron Age fishing economy at Kalbāʾ 4 (Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates)

Lidour

Beech²,

Eddisford

et al. 2023

Arab Archaeol Epigr

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“…Rainfall has never been sufficient in the region to support the development of rain-fed agriculture-oasis agriculture has developed from the Bronze Age onwards using original irrigation systems. In that respect, the exploitation of marine resources took on greater importance and has greatly developed in this region throughout the Holocene, showing a high degree of sophistication that has been rarely reached in South-West Asia (Beech, 2004;Lidour, 2018Lidour, , 2023.…”

Section: Archaeological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…CU.36 was used to soften a dry roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) skin for a comparative purpose. Seabreams (Sparidae) are among the main fish catches during the Neolithic in Eastern Arabia (Lidour, 2023): a specimen of Red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) caught in the Cantabrian Sea has been selected for fish scaling experiments.…”

Section: Phase 3 the Experimental Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The morphological study of cut marks observed on some mammal bones could help partly to solve this issue. Conversely, up to now, no fish remains have shown cut marks within faunal assemblages retrieved from Neolithic contexts: whole fish could have been grilled on coals without beheading, scaling, or filleting processes (Lidour, 2023). Nevertheless, cut marks are sometimes observed on material from Bronze Age and Iron Age assemblages, allegedly associated with preparing preserved fish for regional trade (Lidour et al, 2023).…”

Section: Documenting the Ancient Productive Activitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shell Tools and Use-Wear Analysis: a Reference Collection for Prehistoric Arabia

Lidour,

Cuenca Solana

2023

J Archaeol Method Theory

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Prehistoric and Archaeological research has pointed out the role of marine resources in modern humans’ cognitive and cultural developments. Maritime adaptations constitute a key component of the sociocultural evolution in Eastern Arabia. During the Neolithic (c. 6500–3300 BCE), it is expressed by the colonisation of offshore islands supported by advanced seafaring and the exploitation of marine resources not only for staple food but also for obtaining hard animal materials used for both symbolic and technological productions, respectively in the form of personal adornments and tooling. Although tools made of retouched large marine mollusc shells are reported on several sites, no detailed study has been conducted on their function and role within the socio-technological processes.The present study introduces a prospective approach for the functional analysis of archaeological shell tools from Eastern Arabia. A reference collection of use-wear traces made experimentally has been built: it compiles the results of 65 experiments (23 are documented and illustrated in the present study), including the processing of various animal, vegetal, and mineral materials. Use-wear traces have been observed and described using both low and high-power magnifications (conducted mainly at 100 ×). It provides helpful methodological support for future comparisons with archaeological specimens. The procurement conditions of the shell valves and the techniques of retouch have been discussed in detail, allowing further considerations on the degree of the socio-technological investment devoted to these peculiar artefacts.

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Shell tool technology and new insights into techno-cultural strategies during the Neolithic in Eastern Arabia. An initial case study from Umm al-Quwain (United Arab Emirates)

Lidour,

Cuenca Solana,

Marquínez

et al. 2024

Archaeological Research in Asia

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Thoughts on Neolithic fishing-based economies in coastal Eastern Arabia

Cited by 4 publications

References 65 publications

A Bronze to Iron Age fishing economy at Kalbāʾ 4 (Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates)

A Bronze to Iron Age fishing economy at Kalbāʾ 4 (Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates)

Shell Tools and Use-Wear Analysis: a Reference Collection for Prehistoric Arabia

Shell tool technology and new insights into techno-cultural strategies during the Neolithic in Eastern Arabia. An initial case study from Umm al-Quwain (United Arab Emirates)

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