2010 - Institut für Sozial Anthropologie Universität Wien - In the Shadow of the Ancestors...

1. Maurizio Tosi
Università di Bologna
OCTOBER 4, 2010
INSTITUT FÜR SOZIAL ANTHROPOLOGIE
UNIVERSITÄT WIEN
IN THE SHADOW OF THE ANCESTORS…..
ACHITECTURES OF TRIBAL ALLIANCE IN PREHISTORIC OMAN AND
THE EMERGENCE OF THE MAGAN CIVILIZATION
DURING THE 3° MILLENNIUM BCE

2. FROM KINSHIP TO KINSHIP

4. A CHALLENGE TO A SINGLE
…. A RESPONSE BY MANY

6. “LE TERRE DI
MEZZO”
TRA
MESOPOTAMIA,
INDIA
E ASIA CENTRALE
LA PENISOLA DI OMAN
ESTREMO LEMBO ORIENTALE
DELLA PENISOLA ARABA

7. IL PAESE DI MAGAN

8. LA CIVILTA’ DI MAGANLA CIVILTA’ DI MAGAN
2800-2000 a.C.2800-2000 a.C.
• 5000-3400 cal BC: Una lunga facies neolitica che5000-3400 cal BC: Una lunga facies neolitica che
prolunga per tutto l’Olocene Medio aspetti delle cultureprolunga per tutto l’Olocene Medio aspetti delle culture
mesolitiche di cacciatori-raccoglitori con economie dimesolitiche di cacciatori-raccoglitori con economie di
sussistenza, ma avvia l’integrazione culturale su tutto ilsussistenza, ma avvia l’integrazione culturale su tutto il
territorio:territorio:
• 3400-3100 cal BC :« 3400-3100 cal BC :« la Grande Trasformazionela Grande Trasformazione»: Una»: Una
Transizione rapida alla società complessa e l’economia diTransizione rapida alla società complessa e l’economia di
scambio:scambio:
• 3100-2800 cal BC: Il consolidamento della alleanze tribali3100-2800 cal BC: Il consolidamento della alleanze tribali
e la nucleazione in oasi nelle zone irrigate.e la nucleazione in oasi nelle zone irrigate.
Si costruisce in un lungo arco evolutivo, che si articola in tre fasi principali

9. 1. Prima della Grande1. Prima della Grande
TrasformazioneTrasformazione

10. 4500 et 3700 cal BC

11. inverno
estate
inverno
estate
Nord-Est Sud-Ovest
Mobilità Verticale dei Cacciatori-Raccoglitori Olocenici

12. Umm al-
Qawayn 2
Al-Buhais 18

13. Karimat al-Manahil

15. MANGROVES AS A RESOURCE-MANGROVES AS A RESOURCE-
RICH BIOTOPERICH BIOTOPE
Quriyat

19. Ra’s al-Hamra
Khor Milkh
Wadi Shab GAS-1

20. Ra’s al Khabbah KHB-1

21. KHB-1
4200-4000 cal BC

23. Al-Buhais 18Al-Buhais 18
SPRING CAMPSITE OF A COSTAL GROUPSPRING CAMPSITE OF A COSTAL GROUP
4800 - 4300 cal BC.4800 - 4300 cal BC.
• 90 % OF FAUNAL REMAINS ARE FROM DOMESTIC90 % OF FAUNAL REMAINS ARE FROM DOMESTIC
SPECIESSPECIES
– Cattle (25 % of Total Meat Weight)Cattle (25 % of Total Meat Weight)
– Goats (25 % of Total Meat Weight)Goats (25 % of Total Meat Weight)
– Sheep (40 % of Total Meat Weight)Sheep (40 % of Total Meat Weight)
• 10% OF WILD SPECIES10% OF WILD SPECIES
– Gazella (Gazella (Gazella gazellaGazella gazella))
– OriX (OriX (Oryx leucorixOryx leucorix))
– Ass (Ass (Asinus africanusAsinus africanus))

26. 276 Individuals276 Individuals
• Individual BurialsIndividual Burials
• primaryprimary
• secondarysecondary
• Collective Burials(max 5 individui)Collective Burials(max 5 individui)
• primaryprimary
• secondarysecondary
• No evident Repartitions for SexNo evident Repartitions for Sex
and Ageand Age

27. UAQ 69
Hamriyah
Akab
UAQ 2
A Winter Station:
Umm al Qowain 2

28. • 42 individuals42 individuals
• 18 males18 males
• 14 femals14 femals
• 3 sub adults3 sub adults

30. SHELL ORNAMENTS
Uerpmann, M.
1993 - Structuring the Late Stone Age of Oman, Arabian
Archaeology and Epigraphy 3 : 65-109.

31. Ra’s al-Hamra
Qurum
RAS AL-HAMRA
3800-3200 cal BC

32. RH-5 / 2005 – Données anthropologiques – Résultats préliminaires

33. AIR VIEW OF RAS AL-HAMRA HEADLAND WITH SITE RH-5
AT THE BEGINNING OF EXCAVATIONS
1981-1982

34. RH-5 / 2005 – Données anthropologiques – Résultats préliminaires

35. RH-5 / 2005 – Données anthropologiques – Résultats préliminaires

36. RH-5 :
3700-3300 cal BC
• 122 tombe
• Una collettiva
(43 individui)
• 170
individuali

37. STONE COVERS

38. Salvatori, S.
1996 – Death and ritual in a
population of coastal food
foragers in Oman, in
Afanas’ev, G., S. Cleuziou,
J.R. Lukacs et M. Tosi (dir.),
The Prehistory of Asia and
Oceania, colloque 16, XIII°,
congrès de l’UISPP, ABACO,
Forli, p. 205-222.

39. RH-5 / 2005 – Données anthropologiques – Résultats préliminaires
Fouille Salvatori 1981-1985

40. STEATITE EARRINGS (4000-3300 BCE

44. RH-5, TOMBA 82

46. Wadi Shab GAS-1

50. RH-5 / 2005 - Données anthropologiques – Résultats préliminaires
Introduction
Présentation de
quelques
tombes
Pathologies
Perspectives
Tombe 3
•1 femme adulte
•1 adulte (sexe
indeterminé)
•1 fœtus de environ 9-9 ½
mois lunaires
•1 enfant de 5-6 ans
•1 enfant de 1-3 mois

51. RH-5 / 2005 - Données anthropologiques – Résultats préliminaires
Introduction
Présentation de
quelques
tombes
Pathologies
Perspectives
Tombe 6
•1 femme de 18-20 ans
•1 fœtus de environ 9-9 ½
mois lunaires
•1 fœtus de environ 8 ½ - 9
mois lunaires

52. RH-5 / 2005 - Données anthropologiques – Résultats préliminaires
Introduction
Présentation de
quelques
tombes
Pathologies
Perspectives
Traces de calcite, vestiges
de matières végétales
•Retrouvés sur plusieurs
tombes
•Vêtements, linceuls, …?

53. RH-5 CALCITE IMPRESSIONS OF ROPES AND STRINGS

54. G. 38 AN ADULT MALE
WITH A TURTLE SKULL

55. ?
THE GREEN TURTLE Chelonia mydas

56. RH-5
SECONDARY BURIALS
RECOMPOSED IN THE
SHAPE OF TURTLES

57. RH-5 / 2005 - Données anthropologiques – Résultats préliminaires
Introduction
Présentation de
quelques
tombes
Pathologies
Perspectives
Spina bifida
Arthrose
…

58. RH-5 / 2005 - Données anthropologiques – Résultats préliminaires
Introduction
Présentation de
quelques
tombes
Pathologies
Perspectives
Tombe 20
•3 adultes
•2 enfants

59. Santini, G.
2002 – Burial complex 43 at the prehistoric graveyard of Ra’s al-Hamra in northern Oman, in
S. Cleuziou, M. Tosi et J. Zarins (dir.) : Essays in the late prehistory of the Arabian
peninsula, Serie Orientale Roma XCIII, Rome, IsIAO, p. 147-167.

60. RH-5, tombe 82

62. PART 2PART 2
THE GREATTHE GREAT
TRANSFORMATIONTRANSFORMATION

63. Alla fine del IV millennio a.C.Alla fine del IV millennio a.C.
• DAL 3700 a.C. LE CONDIZIONI CLIMATICHE MUTANO PER DIVENIRE SIMILI
ALLE ATTUALI: RIDUZIONE DELLE PIOGGE INVERNALI, CLIMA ARIDO
•CONTATTI CON IL SUDEST IRANICO: CERAMICA E METALLURGIA
•INIZIO SFRUTTAMENTO MASSIVO RISORSE MINERARIE, CONSEGUENTE
INSERIMENTO NEI CIRCUITI COMMERCIALI DELLE GRANDI POTENZE:
MESOPOTAMIA E – IN PIENO III MILLENNIO – VALLE DELL’INDO

64. Ra’s al-
Hamra
Jiroft

65. Marhashii
Dilmoun
Magan

66. Uruk, 3400 BC

67. Suse D: vase à la cachette (Musée du Louvre)
vers 2600 av. J.-C.

68. THE EXPANSION OF TRIBAL ALLIANES MAKESTHE EXPANSION OF TRIBAL ALLIANES MAKES
POSSIBLE THE INTENSIFICATION OFPOSSIBLE THE INTENSIFICATION OF
SHRINKING REOURCES SCATTERED IN TIMESHRINKING REOURCES SCATTERED IN TIME
AND SPACEAND SPACE
Water and Plants: OasesWater and Plants: Oases
Animals: Stock BreedingAnimals: Stock Breeding
Marine Resources : FishingMarine Resources : Fishing
Rocks and Minerals: MiningRocks and Minerals: Mining

69. FROM THE END OF THE 4° MILLENNIUM BCEFROM THE END OF THE 4° MILLENNIUM BCE
MERGENCE OF OASIS ANDMERGENCE OF OASIS AND
ACRICULTUREACRICULTURE

70. HIGH LY SUSTAINABLE ARTIFICIAL ENVIRONMENTSHIGH LY SUSTAINABLE ARTIFICIAL ENVIRONMENTS
DEVELOPMENT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS THAT PROVIDE A
CONTINUOUS WATER SUPPLY
DATE PALMS
NECESSARY SHADOW/CONDITIONS FOR
• FRUITS
• LEGUMES
+ CROPS IN SURROUNDING AREAS
END 4 MILLENNIUM BC.
OASES DEVELOPMENT

71. Hili 8

72. DATE
S
WHEAT BARLEY

73. GROWTH OF SOCIALGROWTH OF SOCIAL
COMPLEXITYCOMPLEXITY
• LABOUR RE-ORGANIZATION & TASKLABOUR RE-ORGANIZATION & TASK
DIVISIONDIVISION
• UP KEEPING, EXPANSION & DEFENSE OFUP KEEPING, EXPANSION & DEFENSE OF
OASESOASES
ALLEANCES AMONG SEGFMENTARY GROUPS
OF LINEAGE
TRANSFORMATION OF FUNERARY RITUAL TO
ENSURE & CONFIRM ALLIANCES THROUGH THE
MERGING OF ANCESTORS

74. Hili 8

75. Jabal Haqlah (Buraimi) : 914 cairns

76. Hafit Graves
Beehive-shaped Cairns
3000-2600 BCE

77. HAFIT-TYPE TOMBSHAFIT-TYPE TOMBS
Grave 199 w
Grave 8 s

80. Jebel Hafit,
Cairns 5 and 6
EMDET NASR JARS IMPORTED FROM SOUTHERN MESOPOTAMIA AND
RECURRENTLY USED AS BURIAL FURNISHINGS
(3000-2800 BCE)

84. THE BURIAL CAIRNS
OVERLOOKING MAIN
POINTS OF RASSAGE
ZUKAYT

85. VIEWSHED?

86. FINDINGSFINDINGS
Gr 109
Small biconical buff jar
Cilyndrical neck, brocken
everted rims
Abraded, no decoration

89. Tomb Types
Umm an-Nar

90. Bat
> 500

92. 7 METERS
ACROSS DEPOSIT & STRUCTURES

93. BATBAT

94. Incluant de la
cornaline importée
d’Inde
De l’argent 4 petites perles en or

95. Plus de 8500 perles déjà comptabiliséesPlus de 8500 perles déjà comptabilisées

100. RJ-2
RJ-3
RJ-4
RJ-11
10 tombes
5 siècles
minimum 1000,
plus de 2000 ?
RJ-11
RJ-1

101. 4 graves, excavations
by G. Santini, 1989
RJ-2
southern compound

104. I resti corrispondenti
sono distribuiti in tre
fosse
Le fosse contengono i
resti di circa 400
individui, maschi e
femmine e di tutte le
classi di età

106. Hili N (2200-2000 BC), une fosse longue de 6 m, profonde et large de 2
Juste à côté de la tombe J
(trouvée presque vide)

107. Entre 600 et 1000 individus

113. EGUALITARISM ANDEGUALITARISM AND
HETERARCHYHETERARCHY
• NOBODY was buried with a different ritual;NOBODY was buried with a different ritual;
• Even if at the moment of burial the accompaning objectsEven if at the moment of burial the accompaning objects
were different in kind or quantity immediately after theywere different in kind or quantity immediately after they
were merged together;were merged together;
• Tall bodies were mixed together and objects were blendedTall bodies were mixed together and objects were blended
in a kind of single deposition they unified the anestor in ain a kind of single deposition they unified the anestor in a
single community.single community.

115. Crise interne
(Fattori che limitano la crescita)
Destabilizzazione
dall’esterno
Crisi interne
Fattori esterni a rinforzo
delle gerarchie STATO
Consolidamento delle
allenze tribali su base
eterarchica
« La Grande
Trasformazione »
Conferma delle Alleanze Tribali
Hafit
Umm
an-Nar