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Phytolith analysis from the archaeological site of Kush, Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Sachiko Ishida ,
Adrian G. Parker ,
Derek Kennet  and
Martin J. Hodson
Sachiko Ishida
Affiliation:
Earth and Environmental Sciences Section, School of Biological and Molecular Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford, OX3 0BP, Great Britain
Adrian G. Parker
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, School of Social Sciences and Law, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford, OX3 0BP, Great Britain
Derek Kennet
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Durham, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, Great Britain
Martin J. Hodson*
Affiliation:
Earth and Environmental Sciences Section, School of Biological and Molecular Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford, OX3 0BP, Great Britain
*
*Corresponding author. Email Address:mjhodson@brookes.ac.uk
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Abstract

Despite the wealth of archaeological sites and excellent conditions for preservation, few phytolith investigations have been undertaken from the Arabian Gulf region. The results from the Sasanian and Islamic archaeological tell of Kush, Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, are presented. Kush is situated just inside the Gulf on an important trade route. The occupation sequence dates from the 4th century A.D. until the 13th century A.D., recording the development of the site in the Sasanian period, followed by the arrival of Islam in the 7th century A.D. and the final abandonment of the site in the late 13th century when the nearby site of al-Mataf (Julfar) began to develop closer to the present day coastline. All the samples analyzed contained abundant phytoliths (short cells, elongated cells, and groups of elongated cells) of various types. They included date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), papillae (possibly from barley (Hordeum)), and hair cells possibly from species of canary grass (Phalaris spp.). Some researchers have suggested that groups of elongated cells may indicate the presence of irrigation in semiarid environments. The present results for this class of phytoliths appeared to imply that intensive irrigation was unlikely to have taken place around Kush.

Keywords

PhytolithsArabian GulfUnited Arab EmiratesSasanian, IslamicDate palmPapillae
Type
Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 59 , Issue 3 , May 2003 , pp. 310 - 321
Copyright
Elsevier Science (USA)

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