Mery sophie - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Mery sophie
Three excavation campaigns on the island of Akab have brought to light a large Neolithic settleme... more Three excavation campaigns on the island of Akab have brought to light a large Neolithic settlement dating to 4700-3600 BC cal. The Neolithic populations largely exploited the resources of the surrounding lagoon, but also fished for tuna in the open ocean. Structures built on posts were revealed. The material culture of Akab includes Mesopotamian pottery (Ubaid) and several types of characteristic beads. In particular the occupants of Akab produced discoid beads in Spondylus sp., to the extent that this site may be termed one of specialized production.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018
A B S T R A C T Temporary sites were a critical component of the prehistoric Near Eastern economy... more A B S T R A C T Temporary sites were a critical component of the prehistoric Near Eastern economy but, because of their ephemeral nature, are less frequently the focus of research than sedentary settlements. The present article presents the results of neutron activation analysis conducted on pottery from the temporary site of Saruq al-Hadid, United Arab Emirates. The results identified both continuity and change in the pottery consumed at the site in the Bronze and Iron Ages, which suggests that the peoples gathering here were integrated into economic practices observed at sedentary sites throughout southeastern Arabia.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018
Temporary sites were a critical component of the prehistoric Near Eastern economy but, because of... more Temporary sites were a critical component of the prehistoric Near Eastern economy but, because of their ephemeral nature, are less frequently the focus of research than sedentary settlements. The present article presents the results of neutron activation analysis conducted on pottery from the temporary site of Saruq al-Hadid, United Arab Emirates. The results identified both continuity and change in the pottery consumed at the site in the Bronze and Iron Ages, which suggests that the peoples gathering here were integrated into economic practices observed at sedentary sites throughout southeastern Arabia.
Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies, 2000
... Archaeology in the United Arab Emirates V: 89-99. Benton JN 1996. Excavations at al Sufouh. .... more ... Archaeology in the United Arab Emirates V: 89-99. Benton JN 1996. Excavations at al Sufouh. ... notre ??re ?? Ras' al-Junayz, Sultanat d'Oman. Comptes rendus de l'Acad??mie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres avril-juin 1994: 453-468. Cleuziou S. & Tosi M. 1997. ...
47th Meeting of the Seminar for Arabian Studies, Jul 24, 2015
The subsistence strategies of coastal Neolithic groups in eastern Arabia, reliant upon the exploi... more The subsistence strategies of coastal Neolithic groups in eastern Arabia, reliant upon the exploitation of marine and terrestrial animal resources, are not yet fully understood. A central question in relevant literature is the issue of mobility. This is the reason for excavations in Umm al-Quwain (UAQ2), UAE, from 2011 by the French Archaeological Mission. UAQ2 is a site with obvious potential, occupied for 1500 years from the mid-sixth millennium BC. It has an area of approximately 6 ha with 3.2 m or more of imposing and unusual stratigraphy. A large quantity of faunal remains, including terrestrial and marine vertebrates, was recovered from UAQ2. The terrestrial mammals are composed mainly of domestic herbivores including caprines, cattle, and dogs. The most striking feature is the number of newly born and young animals among the small herbivores, a clear indication of occupation during late winter/spring. As for the fish bones, the following taxa were identified: requiem sharks, shark-suckers, marine catfish, needlefish, jacks/trevallies, milkfish, mojarra, emperors, snappers, mullet, flatheads, shortfin flounders, parrotfish, kawakawa, tuna, groupers, sea bream, barracuda, puffer, and tripod fish. These indicate that most fishing was carried out in the shallow lagoon area, but some fishing for tuna may have been carried out in the open seas beyond the local lagoon. Besides fish were also the remains of cuttlefish and swimming crabs. This assemblage provides new information on the mixed exploitation of inland and marine resources during the sixth to fifth millennium BC. The integrated study of the faunal remains contributes to the proposal of a possible year-round residency, not excluding coastal mobility.
This study focuses on the nature of interactions and trade between the greater Indus Valley and e... more This study focuses on the nature of interactions and trade between the greater Indus Valley and eastern Arabia during the third millennium BC. The role of Indus trade in eastern Arabia has often been discussed in the general picture of local cultural and economic developments during the Bronze Age, but the organization and mechanism of this important phenomenon are not yet precisely decoded. New evidence from the stone tower ST1 excavated at Salūt, Sultanate of Oman, by the Italian Mission to Oman in collaboration with the Office of the Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan for Cultural Affairs, provided solid information for proposing updated models of transcultural economic interaction. The collection of Indus and Indus-related artefacts from ST1 testifies to an early integration of sites located in the interior of central Oman, within the network of long-distance connections that directly linked the Indus regions with the western shores of the Arabian Sea. The presence of a wide rang...
Along the 150-km coastline of Masirah, 127 archaeological sites were discovered through surveys c... more Along the 150-km coastline of Masirah, 127 archaeological sites were discovered through surveys carried out in January-February 2012. The island is the largest off the Sultanate of Oman and possesses great archaeological potential, especially for the Neolithic period, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. Shell middens, some of which are very large, and many small workshops are related to the production of ornaments in shell or stone. The site of Ra's Dah (SM-10) has proved to be the oldest identified Neolithic occupation in Oman today. Finally, more than 250 km south of Ra's al-Hadd, the discovery of two Early Bronze Age sites, dating to the Umm an-Nar period, considerably increases the area of the 'Magan Civilization', and with it that of the diffusion of goods from the Indus Civilization.
At about 50 km north of Dubai, located at the limit of the largest natural lagoon of the United A... more At about 50 km north of Dubai, located at the limit of the largest natural lagoon of the United Arab Emirates, the site of Umm al Qaiwain UAQ2 is the earliest Neolithic coastal settlement known today on the Arabic side of the Persian Gulf. This stratified shell midden, excavated since 2011, yielded house features including load-bearing posts and hundreds of Mesopotamian pottery sherds (assigned to the Ubaid period) that were recovered from the lowermost levels. The data collected in this site shed new light on the creation of early exchange on its Arabian side at about 5500-5300 before the Current Era. The shell midden of UAQ2 also contained one of the most ancient cemeteries of Eastern Arabia, which had been excavated in the 1990s but could not precisely be dated. In 2013, we discovered new tombs below the level that contained the previously excavated burials. One of these is a multiple burial, dug into the lowermost levels of the dwelling. It was hypothesized that this was the burial of several men who were killed during a conflict between groups, a reasonable assumption given the particular way in which the corpses were deposited – symbolizing a group united in death. This hypothesis was also supported by the discovery of an arrowhead that had perforated the chest of one of the buried individuals. The theory of a violent Neolithic in Eastern Arabia is therefore reinforced and is discussed in the present article.
Antiquity, 2009
The authors present a remarkable site with a remarkable interpretation: a structured platform of ... more The authors present a remarkable site with a remarkable interpretation: a structured platform of dugong bones, containing skulls laid in parallel and ribs in sets, together with artefacts of the Neolithic period. They propose that the bones have been symbolically arranged and the mound as a whole had a ritual purpose – an interpretation endorsed by analogy with dugong platforms noted in the Torres Strait in recent times.
Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 2002
Journal of Field Archaeology, 1989
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2009
Ever since the early 3rd millennium BC the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) has played an importan... more Ever since the early 3rd millennium BC the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) has played an important role in eastern Arabia where its remains, in the form of seeds, fruits and stem fragments, are preserved on numerous archaeological sites. The recent discovery of a carbonised mass of pitted dates in a collective burial pit from the end of the Umm an-Nar period (ca. 2200-2000 BC) at Hili (United Arab Emirates) constitutes the earliest example of a food preparation involving this species. The present paper describes the discovery and identification of this unique offering before addressing the question of its significance in a funeral context in Bronze Age Arabia.
Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy, 2009
Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy, 2008
Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy, 2008
Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy, 2004
Séances de la Société Préhistorique Française, 2016
At about 50 km north of Dubai, located at the limit of the largest natural lagoon of the United A... more At about 50 km north of Dubai, located at the limit of the largest natural lagoon of the United Arab Emirates, the site of Umm al Qaiwain UAQ2 is the earliest Neolithic coastal settlement known today on the Arabic side of the Persian Gulf. This stratified shell midden, excavated since 2011, yielded house features including load-bearing posts and hundreds of Mesopotamian pottery sherds (assigned to the Ubaid period) that were recovered from the lowermost levels. The data collected in this site shed new light on the creation of early exchange on its Arabian side at about 5500-5300 before the Current Era. The shell midden of UAQ2 also contained one of the most ancient cemeteries of Eastern Arabia, which had been excavated in the 1990s but could not precisely be dated. In 2013, we discovered new tombs below the level that contained the previously excavated burials. One of these is a multiple burial, dug into the lowermost levels of the dwelling. It was hypothesized that this was the bur...
Bulletins et mémoires de la société d'anthropologie de Paris
Avertissement Le contenu de ce site relève de la législation française sur la propriété intellect... more Avertissement Le contenu de ce site relève de la législation française sur la propriété intellectuelle et est la propriété exclusive de l'éditeur. Les oeuvres figurant sur ce site peuvent être consultées et reproduites sur un support papier ou numérique sous réserve qu'elles soient strictement réservées à un usage soit personnel, soit scientifique ou pédagogique excluant toute exploitation commerciale. La reproduction devra obligatoirement mentionner l'éditeur, le nom de la revue, l'auteur et la référence du document. Toute autre reproduction est interdite sauf accord préalable de l'éditeur, en dehors des cas prévus par la législation en vigueur en France. Revues.org est un portail de revues en sciences humaines et sociales développé par le Cléo, Centre pour l'édition électronique ouverte (CNRS, EHESS, UP, UAPV).
Three excavation campaigns on the island of Akab have brought to light a large Neolithic settleme... more Three excavation campaigns on the island of Akab have brought to light a large Neolithic settlement dating to 4700-3600 BC cal. The Neolithic populations largely exploited the resources of the surrounding lagoon, but also fished for tuna in the open ocean. Structures built on posts were revealed. The material culture of Akab includes Mesopotamian pottery (Ubaid) and several types of characteristic beads. In particular the occupants of Akab produced discoid beads in Spondylus sp., to the extent that this site may be termed one of specialized production.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018
A B S T R A C T Temporary sites were a critical component of the prehistoric Near Eastern economy... more A B S T R A C T Temporary sites were a critical component of the prehistoric Near Eastern economy but, because of their ephemeral nature, are less frequently the focus of research than sedentary settlements. The present article presents the results of neutron activation analysis conducted on pottery from the temporary site of Saruq al-Hadid, United Arab Emirates. The results identified both continuity and change in the pottery consumed at the site in the Bronze and Iron Ages, which suggests that the peoples gathering here were integrated into economic practices observed at sedentary sites throughout southeastern Arabia.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018
Temporary sites were a critical component of the prehistoric Near Eastern economy but, because of... more Temporary sites were a critical component of the prehistoric Near Eastern economy but, because of their ephemeral nature, are less frequently the focus of research than sedentary settlements. The present article presents the results of neutron activation analysis conducted on pottery from the temporary site of Saruq al-Hadid, United Arab Emirates. The results identified both continuity and change in the pottery consumed at the site in the Bronze and Iron Ages, which suggests that the peoples gathering here were integrated into economic practices observed at sedentary sites throughout southeastern Arabia.
Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies, 2000
... Archaeology in the United Arab Emirates V: 89-99. Benton JN 1996. Excavations at al Sufouh. .... more ... Archaeology in the United Arab Emirates V: 89-99. Benton JN 1996. Excavations at al Sufouh. ... notre ??re ?? Ras' al-Junayz, Sultanat d'Oman. Comptes rendus de l'Acad??mie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres avril-juin 1994: 453-468. Cleuziou S. & Tosi M. 1997. ...
47th Meeting of the Seminar for Arabian Studies, Jul 24, 2015
The subsistence strategies of coastal Neolithic groups in eastern Arabia, reliant upon the exploi... more The subsistence strategies of coastal Neolithic groups in eastern Arabia, reliant upon the exploitation of marine and terrestrial animal resources, are not yet fully understood. A central question in relevant literature is the issue of mobility. This is the reason for excavations in Umm al-Quwain (UAQ2), UAE, from 2011 by the French Archaeological Mission. UAQ2 is a site with obvious potential, occupied for 1500 years from the mid-sixth millennium BC. It has an area of approximately 6 ha with 3.2 m or more of imposing and unusual stratigraphy. A large quantity of faunal remains, including terrestrial and marine vertebrates, was recovered from UAQ2. The terrestrial mammals are composed mainly of domestic herbivores including caprines, cattle, and dogs. The most striking feature is the number of newly born and young animals among the small herbivores, a clear indication of occupation during late winter/spring. As for the fish bones, the following taxa were identified: requiem sharks, shark-suckers, marine catfish, needlefish, jacks/trevallies, milkfish, mojarra, emperors, snappers, mullet, flatheads, shortfin flounders, parrotfish, kawakawa, tuna, groupers, sea bream, barracuda, puffer, and tripod fish. These indicate that most fishing was carried out in the shallow lagoon area, but some fishing for tuna may have been carried out in the open seas beyond the local lagoon. Besides fish were also the remains of cuttlefish and swimming crabs. This assemblage provides new information on the mixed exploitation of inland and marine resources during the sixth to fifth millennium BC. The integrated study of the faunal remains contributes to the proposal of a possible year-round residency, not excluding coastal mobility.
This study focuses on the nature of interactions and trade between the greater Indus Valley and e... more This study focuses on the nature of interactions and trade between the greater Indus Valley and eastern Arabia during the third millennium BC. The role of Indus trade in eastern Arabia has often been discussed in the general picture of local cultural and economic developments during the Bronze Age, but the organization and mechanism of this important phenomenon are not yet precisely decoded. New evidence from the stone tower ST1 excavated at Salūt, Sultanate of Oman, by the Italian Mission to Oman in collaboration with the Office of the Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan for Cultural Affairs, provided solid information for proposing updated models of transcultural economic interaction. The collection of Indus and Indus-related artefacts from ST1 testifies to an early integration of sites located in the interior of central Oman, within the network of long-distance connections that directly linked the Indus regions with the western shores of the Arabian Sea. The presence of a wide rang...
Along the 150-km coastline of Masirah, 127 archaeological sites were discovered through surveys c... more Along the 150-km coastline of Masirah, 127 archaeological sites were discovered through surveys carried out in January-February 2012. The island is the largest off the Sultanate of Oman and possesses great archaeological potential, especially for the Neolithic period, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. Shell middens, some of which are very large, and many small workshops are related to the production of ornaments in shell or stone. The site of Ra's Dah (SM-10) has proved to be the oldest identified Neolithic occupation in Oman today. Finally, more than 250 km south of Ra's al-Hadd, the discovery of two Early Bronze Age sites, dating to the Umm an-Nar period, considerably increases the area of the 'Magan Civilization', and with it that of the diffusion of goods from the Indus Civilization.
At about 50 km north of Dubai, located at the limit of the largest natural lagoon of the United A... more At about 50 km north of Dubai, located at the limit of the largest natural lagoon of the United Arab Emirates, the site of Umm al Qaiwain UAQ2 is the earliest Neolithic coastal settlement known today on the Arabic side of the Persian Gulf. This stratified shell midden, excavated since 2011, yielded house features including load-bearing posts and hundreds of Mesopotamian pottery sherds (assigned to the Ubaid period) that were recovered from the lowermost levels. The data collected in this site shed new light on the creation of early exchange on its Arabian side at about 5500-5300 before the Current Era. The shell midden of UAQ2 also contained one of the most ancient cemeteries of Eastern Arabia, which had been excavated in the 1990s but could not precisely be dated. In 2013, we discovered new tombs below the level that contained the previously excavated burials. One of these is a multiple burial, dug into the lowermost levels of the dwelling. It was hypothesized that this was the burial of several men who were killed during a conflict between groups, a reasonable assumption given the particular way in which the corpses were deposited – symbolizing a group united in death. This hypothesis was also supported by the discovery of an arrowhead that had perforated the chest of one of the buried individuals. The theory of a violent Neolithic in Eastern Arabia is therefore reinforced and is discussed in the present article.
Antiquity, 2009
The authors present a remarkable site with a remarkable interpretation: a structured platform of ... more The authors present a remarkable site with a remarkable interpretation: a structured platform of dugong bones, containing skulls laid in parallel and ribs in sets, together with artefacts of the Neolithic period. They propose that the bones have been symbolically arranged and the mound as a whole had a ritual purpose – an interpretation endorsed by analogy with dugong platforms noted in the Torres Strait in recent times.
Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 2002
Journal of Field Archaeology, 1989
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2009
Ever since the early 3rd millennium BC the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) has played an importan... more Ever since the early 3rd millennium BC the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) has played an important role in eastern Arabia where its remains, in the form of seeds, fruits and stem fragments, are preserved on numerous archaeological sites. The recent discovery of a carbonised mass of pitted dates in a collective burial pit from the end of the Umm an-Nar period (ca. 2200-2000 BC) at Hili (United Arab Emirates) constitutes the earliest example of a food preparation involving this species. The present paper describes the discovery and identification of this unique offering before addressing the question of its significance in a funeral context in Bronze Age Arabia.
Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy, 2009
Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy, 2008
Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy, 2008
Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy, 2004
Séances de la Société Préhistorique Française, 2016
At about 50 km north of Dubai, located at the limit of the largest natural lagoon of the United A... more At about 50 km north of Dubai, located at the limit of the largest natural lagoon of the United Arab Emirates, the site of Umm al Qaiwain UAQ2 is the earliest Neolithic coastal settlement known today on the Arabic side of the Persian Gulf. This stratified shell midden, excavated since 2011, yielded house features including load-bearing posts and hundreds of Mesopotamian pottery sherds (assigned to the Ubaid period) that were recovered from the lowermost levels. The data collected in this site shed new light on the creation of early exchange on its Arabian side at about 5500-5300 before the Current Era. The shell midden of UAQ2 also contained one of the most ancient cemeteries of Eastern Arabia, which had been excavated in the 1990s but could not precisely be dated. In 2013, we discovered new tombs below the level that contained the previously excavated burials. One of these is a multiple burial, dug into the lowermost levels of the dwelling. It was hypothesized that this was the bur...
Bulletins et mémoires de la société d'anthropologie de Paris
Avertissement Le contenu de ce site relève de la législation française sur la propriété intellect... more Avertissement Le contenu de ce site relève de la législation française sur la propriété intellectuelle et est la propriété exclusive de l'éditeur. Les oeuvres figurant sur ce site peuvent être consultées et reproduites sur un support papier ou numérique sous réserve qu'elles soient strictement réservées à un usage soit personnel, soit scientifique ou pédagogique excluant toute exploitation commerciale. La reproduction devra obligatoirement mentionner l'éditeur, le nom de la revue, l'auteur et la référence du document. Toute autre reproduction est interdite sauf accord préalable de l'éditeur, en dehors des cas prévus par la législation en vigueur en France. Revues.org est un portail de revues en sciences humaines et sociales développé par le Cléo, Centre pour l'édition électronique ouverte (CNRS, EHESS, UP, UAPV).