Archaeozoology of Late Bronze / Iron Age Dadān settlement (sector C), Arabian Peninsula

Details

Supervisors

Langohr, Charlotte ; De Cupere, Bea

Faculty

Faculté de philosophie, arts et lettres

Degree label

Master [120] en histoire de l'art et archéologie, orientation générale, à finalité spécialisée: théories, gestion et sciences de l'archéologie

Abstract

The Late Bronze and Iron Ages (14th cent. BCE – 3rd cent. CE) were characterized by the establishment of kingdoms like Dadān and Lihyan situated in the north-western part of Arabian Peninsula, along the Incense Road. This thesis focuses on the extensive collection of faunal remains recorded during excavations conducted by the Dadān Archaeological Project within the oasis settlement of Dadān. The archaeozoological analysis of the faunal material collected in sector C has been placed within the wider historical and environmental context of the Arabian Peninsula. The study aimed to investigate the methods of animal exploitation and subsistence strategies used by the inhabitants of Dadan over multiple centuries. The findings highlight the importance of sheep, goats, and camels in the production of meat and other animal products as well as the use of fish as crucial dietary supplements in combination with plant-based subsistence strategies. The issue of domestication of dromedaries and their utilization as versatile animals was also discussed. The results obtained from Dadān were reviewed within a broader regional context, revealing a similar pattern of animal exploitation in other Iron Age oasis settlements along the Incense Road.