Life-sized Neolithic camel sculptures in Arabia: A scientific assessment of the craftsmanship and age of the Camel Site reliefs. (April 2022)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Life-sized Neolithic camel sculptures in Arabia: A scientific assessment of the craftsmanship and age of the Camel Site reliefs. (April 2022)
- Main Title:
- Life-sized Neolithic camel sculptures in Arabia: A scientific assessment of the craftsmanship and age of the Camel Site reliefs
- Authors:
- Guagnin, Maria
Charloux, Guillaume
AlSharekh, Abdullah M.
Crassard, Rémy
Hilbert, Yamandú H.
Andreae, Meinrat O.
AlAmri, Abdullah
Preusser, Frank
Dubois, Fulbert
Burgos, Franck
Flohr, Pascal
Mora, Pascal
AlQaeed, Ahmad
AlAli, Yasser - Abstract:
- Highlights: Chronological assessment and pXRF analysis suggest reliefs date to the Neolithic. Neolithic arrowheads and radiocarbon dates attest occupation 5200–5600 BCE. Reliefs were carved with stone tools and re-shaped over a longer period of time. Luminescence dating suggests erosion caused reliefs to fall around 1000 BCE. Camel Site likely has the oldest known surviving large-scale animal reliefs in the world. Abstract: The life-sized, naturalistic reliefs at the Camel Site in northern Arabia have been severely damaged by erosion. This, coupled with substantial destruction of the surrounding archaeological landscape, has made a chronological assessment of the site difficult. To overcome these problems, we combined results from a wide range of methods, including analysis of surviving tool marks, assessment of weathering and erosion patterns, portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and luminescence dating of fallen fragments. In addition, test excavations identified a homogenous lithic assemblage and faunal remains that were sampled for radiocarbon dating. Our results show that the reliefs were carved with stone tools and that the creation of the reliefs, as well as the main period of activity at the site, date to the Neolithic. Neolithic arrowheads and radiocarbon dates attest occupation between 5200 and 5600 BCE. This is consistent with measurements of the areal density of manganese and iron in the rock varnish. The site was likely in use over a longer period andHighlights: Chronological assessment and pXRF analysis suggest reliefs date to the Neolithic. Neolithic arrowheads and radiocarbon dates attest occupation 5200–5600 BCE. Reliefs were carved with stone tools and re-shaped over a longer period of time. Luminescence dating suggests erosion caused reliefs to fall around 1000 BCE. Camel Site likely has the oldest known surviving large-scale animal reliefs in the world. Abstract: The life-sized, naturalistic reliefs at the Camel Site in northern Arabia have been severely damaged by erosion. This, coupled with substantial destruction of the surrounding archaeological landscape, has made a chronological assessment of the site difficult. To overcome these problems, we combined results from a wide range of methods, including analysis of surviving tool marks, assessment of weathering and erosion patterns, portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and luminescence dating of fallen fragments. In addition, test excavations identified a homogenous lithic assemblage and faunal remains that were sampled for radiocarbon dating. Our results show that the reliefs were carved with stone tools and that the creation of the reliefs, as well as the main period of activity at the site, date to the Neolithic. Neolithic arrowheads and radiocarbon dates attest occupation between 5200 and 5600 BCE. This is consistent with measurements of the areal density of manganese and iron in the rock varnish. The site was likely in use over a longer period and reliefs were re-worked when erosion began to obscure detailed features. By 1000 BCE, erosion was advanced enough to cause first panels to fall, in a process that continues until today. The Camel Site is likely home to the oldest surviving large-scale (naturalistic) animal reliefs in the world. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Journal of archaeological science. Volume 42(2022)
- Journal:
- Journal of archaeological science
- Issue:
- Volume 42(2022)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 42, Issue 2022 (2022)
- Year:
- 2022
- Volume:
- 42
- Issue:
- 2022
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2022-0042-2022-0000
- Page Start:
- Page End:
- Publication Date:
- 2022-04
- Subjects:
- Rock Art -- Neolithic -- Arabia -- Prehistory -- Chippedstone tools
Archaeology -- Periodicals
Archaeology -- Research -- Periodicals
930.1 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/2352409X ↗
http://www.sciencedirect.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103165 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 2352-409X
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 21295.xml