DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4043#0228
206
Summary
Cemetery
Hafit
Umm an Nar
Wädi Süq
Lizq/Rumaylah
Samad
M8
0
0
0
31
44
M27
0
0
0
69
65
S10
0
0
23
15
1091
S20
0
0
0
0
83
S21N/S
0
1
176
26
509
S22
0
0
3
19
0
S23
0
0
0
4
30
S26
0
0
1
1
97
S30
0
2
0
1
284
Am
0
0
0
0
62
Bu
0
0
2
2
91
Sum: 13
0
3
205
168
2356
Table 9.1 The finds (not counting beads) ordered according to their period and cemetery.
Süq Culture/Period contexts, to have been produced
also in the latter period. But owing to the disturbance
of most of the contexts exacter chronological results
elude our methods. For most of the Wädi Süq and Lizq/
Rumaylah contexts methods such as correspondence
analysis are not applicable. The chronology worked out
in the present study represents a core and many early
and late examples of a given class are chronologically
estimated.
The finds are unevenly distributed over the three
main cultural stages (Table 9.1). This results from the
selection of the features excavated and their preserva-
tion. The cemeteries S21 north and S21 south are an ex-
ception since prior to excavation they were considered
to date to the Samad Period. But later they proved to
contain mostly Wädi Süq and Lizq/Rumaylah remains.
The earliest contexts are more disturbed than their suc-
cessors. The definition of the Wädi Süq stage rests on
the characteristic ceramic, stone bowls and their lids,
lances, as well as razors. The funerary pottery of Central
Oman is wheel-turned fine wäre which distinguishes it-
self in terms of its wäre, decoration and form settlement
pottery, for example from Shimäl. Aside from the main
Wädi Süq Period, certain graves reveal a late phase. In
1985 on the basis of a single grave in Nizwä and a col-
lective one in al Wäsit. Bronze Age Wädi Süq, al Wäsit
and Nizwä phases were identified. But by virtue of the
finds now available a two part subdivision matches bet-
ter the developmental rhythm, as supported in an un-
published study of the settlement finds from Shimäl.
Important is the Observation that in the mid second mil-
lennium BCE a transition began in the settlement pot-
tery from a wheel-turned to handmade wares1921.
Characteristic for the funerary pottery of the Lizq/
Rumaylah period is a handmade pottery of which a min-
ority is painted1922. It distinguishes itself from the set-
tlement pottery which is less frequently painted. The
dominant vessel form is the bowl. For the dating of
this period few intact contexts were available and few
radiocarbon determinations. Glass and iron do not oc-
cur in reliable contexts of the first millennium BCE in
Oman, a fact which is not explicable alone as a result of
grave robbing. During the Early Iron Age Central Oman
still produces large quantities of copper and presumably
also can import goods. Bridge-spouted jars and daggers
with a mushroom-shaped grip terminal are evidence of
Iranian influence1923.
The Lizq/Rumaylah Period can be divided into an
early and a late phase, on the strength of results in Ru-
maylah and in the honeycomb cemetery at Bawshar1924.
At the end of the Early Iron Age the decoration of stone
bowls seems to become freer and less careful, as at
Bawshar. The development from phase 1 to phase 2
reveals itself in changes in the wäre, decoration, and
the vessel forms. Characteristic at Rumaylah is the so-
called orange wäre. But this distinction is known from
very few sites, and is noticeably lacking stratigraphi-
cally at Lizq LI. Also problematic is the difference be-
tween settlement and funerary pottery in terms of forms
and decoration. In any case, the distinction between
the so-called „classic1925 Iron Age" of Rumaylah and
1921 C. Velde 1992, 55-80.
1922 S. Kroll, in: GOLF-ARCHÄOLOGIE, 315: Rumaylah Phase 1:
0.8 % painted pottery, Lizq LI: 15 % painted pottery.
1923 P. Lombard 1985,178; D.T. Potts 1992a, 378.
1924 p Yule, in: OrA2, 70-71.
1925 Oxford English Dictionary "classical": 1. Of the first class, of
the highest rank or importance; approved as a model; Standard,
leading.
Summary
Cemetery
Hafit
Umm an Nar
Wädi Süq
Lizq/Rumaylah
Samad
M8
0
0
0
31
44
M27
0
0
0
69
65
S10
0
0
23
15
1091
S20
0
0
0
0
83
S21N/S
0
1
176
26
509
S22
0
0
3
19
0
S23
0
0
0
4
30
S26
0
0
1
1
97
S30
0
2
0
1
284
Am
0
0
0
0
62
Bu
0
0
2
2
91
Sum: 13
0
3
205
168
2356
Table 9.1 The finds (not counting beads) ordered according to their period and cemetery.
Süq Culture/Period contexts, to have been produced
also in the latter period. But owing to the disturbance
of most of the contexts exacter chronological results
elude our methods. For most of the Wädi Süq and Lizq/
Rumaylah contexts methods such as correspondence
analysis are not applicable. The chronology worked out
in the present study represents a core and many early
and late examples of a given class are chronologically
estimated.
The finds are unevenly distributed over the three
main cultural stages (Table 9.1). This results from the
selection of the features excavated and their preserva-
tion. The cemeteries S21 north and S21 south are an ex-
ception since prior to excavation they were considered
to date to the Samad Period. But later they proved to
contain mostly Wädi Süq and Lizq/Rumaylah remains.
The earliest contexts are more disturbed than their suc-
cessors. The definition of the Wädi Süq stage rests on
the characteristic ceramic, stone bowls and their lids,
lances, as well as razors. The funerary pottery of Central
Oman is wheel-turned fine wäre which distinguishes it-
self in terms of its wäre, decoration and form settlement
pottery, for example from Shimäl. Aside from the main
Wädi Süq Period, certain graves reveal a late phase. In
1985 on the basis of a single grave in Nizwä and a col-
lective one in al Wäsit. Bronze Age Wädi Süq, al Wäsit
and Nizwä phases were identified. But by virtue of the
finds now available a two part subdivision matches bet-
ter the developmental rhythm, as supported in an un-
published study of the settlement finds from Shimäl.
Important is the Observation that in the mid second mil-
lennium BCE a transition began in the settlement pot-
tery from a wheel-turned to handmade wares1921.
Characteristic for the funerary pottery of the Lizq/
Rumaylah period is a handmade pottery of which a min-
ority is painted1922. It distinguishes itself from the set-
tlement pottery which is less frequently painted. The
dominant vessel form is the bowl. For the dating of
this period few intact contexts were available and few
radiocarbon determinations. Glass and iron do not oc-
cur in reliable contexts of the first millennium BCE in
Oman, a fact which is not explicable alone as a result of
grave robbing. During the Early Iron Age Central Oman
still produces large quantities of copper and presumably
also can import goods. Bridge-spouted jars and daggers
with a mushroom-shaped grip terminal are evidence of
Iranian influence1923.
The Lizq/Rumaylah Period can be divided into an
early and a late phase, on the strength of results in Ru-
maylah and in the honeycomb cemetery at Bawshar1924.
At the end of the Early Iron Age the decoration of stone
bowls seems to become freer and less careful, as at
Bawshar. The development from phase 1 to phase 2
reveals itself in changes in the wäre, decoration, and
the vessel forms. Characteristic at Rumaylah is the so-
called orange wäre. But this distinction is known from
very few sites, and is noticeably lacking stratigraphi-
cally at Lizq LI. Also problematic is the difference be-
tween settlement and funerary pottery in terms of forms
and decoration. In any case, the distinction between
the so-called „classic1925 Iron Age" of Rumaylah and
1921 C. Velde 1992, 55-80.
1922 S. Kroll, in: GOLF-ARCHÄOLOGIE, 315: Rumaylah Phase 1:
0.8 % painted pottery, Lizq LI: 15 % painted pottery.
1923 P. Lombard 1985,178; D.T. Potts 1992a, 378.
1924 p Yule, in: OrA2, 70-71.
1925 Oxford English Dictionary "classical": 1. Of the first class, of
the highest rank or importance; approved as a model; Standard,
leading.