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Bahra 1 Excavations in 2013. Preliminary Report on the Fifth Season of Kuwaiti-Polish Archaeological Explorations

Authors:
Piotr Bieliński at University of Warsaw
Piotr Bieliński
Marcin Białowarczuk at University of Warsaw
Marcin Białowarczuk
Hubert Kiersnowski at Państwowy Instytut Geologiczny
Hubert Kiersnowski
Joanna Piątkowska-Małecka
Joanna Piątkowska-Małecka
Joanna Piątkowska-Małecka
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Abstract

Report on a season’s work at the lar gest Ubaid-period settlement in the Gulf region, located in the region of Al-Subiyah in Kuwait. Description of architectural remains and a comprehensive study of several categories of finds: Ubaid and Arabian Neolithic pottery, flint and quartz tools, typical Ubaid small finds, shells, and animal bones.
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BAHRA 1
EXCAVATIONS IN 2013
National Council for Culture,
Arts and Letters, Kuwait
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CULTURE ARTS AND LETTERS OF THE STATE OF KUWAIT
POLISH CENTRE OF MEDITERRANEAN ARCHAEOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF WARSAW
Bahra 1
Excavations in 2013
Preliminary Report on the Fifth Season
of Kuwaiti–Polish Archaeological Explorations
Piotr Bieliński
and
Marcin Białowarczuk, Hubert Kiersnowski,
Joanna Piątkowska-Małecka, Andrzej Reiche, Anna Smogorzewska,
Agnieszka Szymczak
KU WAIT — WA RS AW
2015
Kuwaiti–Polish Archaeologica l Mission (KPA M)
Publications
Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters
University of Warsaw of the State of Kuwait
Bahra 1 Excavations in 2013.
Preliminary Report on the Fih Season of Kuwaiti–Polish Archaeological Explorations
Edited by Piotr Bieliński and Agnieszka Szymczak
Managing editor: Agnieszka Szymczak
Graphic design: Marta Momot, Urszula Wicenciak
Digital image processing for publication: Marta Momot, Urszula Wicenciak, Piotr Zakrzewski
Translation and language consultation: Agnieszka Szymczak
Cover design: Łukasz Rutkowski, updated by Marta Momot
Cover photo: Bifacial int arrowhead from Bahra 1 (Photo Adam Oleksiak)
DTP: Urszula Wicenciak
ISBN (National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters of the State of Kuwait)
ISBN 978-83-942288-1-1 (Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeolog y, University of Warsaw)
© National Council of Culture Arts and Letters of the State of Kuwait, Kuwait 2015
© Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw, Warszawa 2015
© Piotr Bieliński, Marcin Białowarczuk, Hubert Kiersnowski, Joanna Piątkowska-Małecka,
Andrzej Reiche, Anna Smogorzewska, Agnieszka Szymczak, Warszawa 2015
Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw (PCMA UW )
00-497 Wa rszawa, Poland, ul. Nowy Świat 4
www.pcma.uw.edu.pl ; pcma@uw.edu.pl ; pam.pcma@uw.edu.pl
National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters of the State of Kuwait (NCCA L)
Kuwaiti Department Antiquities and Museums
Kuwait, Kuwait City
Printed in Kuwait
5
Kuwaiti-Polish Archaeological Mission
Piotr Bieliński
Chapter I Introduction .................................................................................................................... 7
Piotr Bieliński
Chapter II Excavations in Units 3, 6, 9–12 ..................................................................................... 11
Andrzej Reiche, Agnieszka Szymczak
Chapter III Excavations in Houses 1 and 2 ...................................................................................... 41
Anna Smogorzewska
Chapter IV Pottery .................................................................................................................................. 61
Marcin Białowarczuk
Chapter V Lithics ................................................................................................................................... 83
Andrzej Reiche
Chapter VI Small nds ........................................................................................................................... 93
Joanna Piątkowska-Małecka
Chapter VII Animal bone remains ....................................................................................................... 127
Hubert Kiersnowski
Chapter VIII Geological and geomorphologic survey in the Bahra area ................................... 153
Agnieszka Szymczak
Appendix Additional information on eld activities and documentation updates ......... 157
Literature ........................................................................................................................................................... 175
CONTENTS
Stratégies et techniques de pêche dans le Golfe arabo-persique au Néolithique (VIème-IVème millénaires av. n.-è.). Etude des assemblages ichyologiques des sites néolithiques d'Akab, de Delma et de Marawah MR11 (Emirats Arabes Unis).
Thesis
  • Dec 2018
Cette thèse intègre l'analyse inédite de plus de 80 000 restes provenant des sites néolithiques d'Akab, de Dalma et de Marawah MR11 (Emirats Arabes Unis) – occupés entre la moitié du VIe et la fin du IVe millénaire av. n. è. Les résultats dévoilent des pêcheries déjà investies dans l'exploitation d'une grande variété de milieux marins. Les poissons capturés et consommés par ces pêcheurs incluent de nombreux sargues, pagres (Sparidae), empereurs (Lethrinidae) et petites aiguilles (Belonidae) qui témoignent avant tout de l'exploitation des eaux côtières peu profondes : le long des rivages ainsi que dans les zones d'herbiers et de récif frangeant. À Akab, la pêche dans la lagune et la mangrove est également reflétée par la présence de nombreux poissons‐chats marins (Ariidae) et mulets (Mugilidae) dans l'assemblage. Les techniques impliquées dans ce type de pêche sont peu sélectives et relativement simples : la prospection des petits fonds à l'aide de senne, la pose de filets calés, voire l'utilisation de barrages à poissons. À Dalma, des nasses étaient probablement déjà employées dans les zones de récifs moyennement profondes, pour la capture de mérous en particulier (Serranidae). Les mangroves et les zones de récifs sont des environnements très productifs auprès desquels les pêcheurs pouvaient vraisemblablement se fournir en poissons et en coquillages tout au long de l'année. En l'occurrence, ceux d'Akab connaissaient et exploitaient probablement déjà les grands rassemblements de becs‐de-cane (Lethrinus nebulosus) près de la lagune d'Umm al‐Quwain, au printemps et à l'occasion de leur frai. L'étude du matériel d'Akab et de Dalma révèle toutefois aussi l'existence d'expéditions de pêche en mer ouverte, impliquant l'usage de bateaux. Ces expéditions sont notamment conduites à la recherche des bancs de thonines (Scombridae) voire de carangues (Carangidae). Leur pêche n'impliquait pas seulement l'emploi de lignes munies d'hameçons en nacre mais aussi celui de filets tels que des sennes tournantes. Ces filets ont également permis aux pêcheurs de Dalma de capturer de grands requins et quelques dauphins plus occasionnellement. Bien que la pêche des bancs de pélagiques soit aujourd'hui considérée comme une activité hivernale dans les pêcheries du Golfe persique, l'existence d'un climat plus humide au Néolithique, alors soumis au régime de la mousson de l'Océan Indien, invite à nuancer nos modèles de saisonnalité. Au Néolithique, la pêche était ainsi pratiquée à la fois de manière généraliste et de manière spécialisée en faisant contribuer un large panel de techniques et de savoirs écologiques aux besoins d'une économie de subsistance reposant principalement sur l'exploitation des ressources marines.
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Porphyreon. Hellenistic and Roman pottery production in the Sidon hinterland. PAM Monograph Series 7
Book
  • Jan 2020
The study presents the ceramic assemblage from Jiyeh, including a typological and chronological classification of the vessels, and discusses the finds in relation to trends and phenomena typical of Phoenician pottery production in the periods in question. The overall picture of local workshop output contributes important insights into the history of ancient trade and craftsmanship in central Phoenicia. A formal examination of the ceramic material, combined with a review of ancient sources, written and other, sheds light on the administrative status of the settlement in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, placing it convincingly in the hinterland of Sidon rather than Berytus. Moreover, it has added a unique small-town perspective to the study of the economy of ancient Phoenicia, based so far chiefly on data from the large urban centres like Sidon, Tyre and Berytus.
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Excavations at MR11 on Marawah Island (Abu Dhabi, UAE): new insight into the architecture and planning of Arabian Neolithic settlements and early evidence for pearling
Article
Full-text available
  • Nov 2019
In 1992, an archaeological survey of Marawah Island conducted by the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey identified two significant Neolithic settlements known as MR1 and MR11. Both sites are constructed on prominent rocky platforms located towards the western end of the island. In 2000 and 2003, small‐scale excavations took place at MR11, with the first full excavation taking place in 2004. Excavations continued at MR11 between 2014 up to 2019. Radiocarbon dating demonstrates that the site was occupied between the earliest part of the sixth millennium to the mid‐fifth millennium BC. Three areas have been so far examined. Area A—a tripartite house (2004 and 2014–2017 excavation seasons); Area B—a partial structure (in 2003 and 2017–2018); and Area C—a series of at least five rooms (in 2017–2019). The results provide a valuable new insight into the architecture and planning of Arabian Neolithic settlements in the region, as well as the earliest known evidence for pearling.
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The earliest settlement remains at the Ubaid‐related site of Bahra 1 (Kuwait)
Article
Full-text available
  • Nov 2019
The settlement at Bahra 1 lies in the As‐Sabbiya dessert, Kuwait. The site was preliminarily dated to the Ubaid 2/3 period, with four settlement phases distinguished so far. Phases A–C yielded remains of sturdy stone architecture, while the oldest Phase D was represented by a fire‐pit horizon, as well as thin and low walls, perhaps serving as foundations for light and perishable superstructures. Even in the earliest phase, Mesopotamian influence is visible, evidenced by the structures’ orthogonal plan and the high percentage of Ubaid ware. Although the remains of the earliest phase were preserved very fragmentarily and over a limited area, they shed more light on the character of the earliest settlement activity in the region.
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