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 Proceedings
of the
seminar for arabian studies

Volume 49
2019

Papers from the fifty-second meeting of the

Seminar for Arabian Studies
held at the British Museum, London,
3 to 5 August 2018

seminar for arabian studies

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ISSN 0308-8421
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 Contents
Guidelines and Transliteration ..............................................................................................................................................................................iii

Editors’ Foreword ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... v

In memoriam Paolo M. Costa, 1932–2019 ............................................................................................................................................................ vii

A documentation of Old Jiddah’s Ottoman arbiṭah: selected case studies (poster) ..................................................................................... 1
Hidaya M. Abbas

Initial results of a research programme on Iron Age II pottery production in the al Ḥajar mountains: compositional analyses of
pottery vessels used in a domestic context, in a reception building and in a ritual area at Masāfī (Fujairah, UAE) ........................... 7
Anne Benoist, Sophie Méry, Steven Karacic, Maël Crépy, Louise Purdue & Sophie Costa

An overview of the latest prehistoric research in Qumayrah Valley, Sultanate of Oman (poster) .........................................................25
Marcin Białowarczuk & Agnieszka Szymczak

Pottery from al-Zubārah, Qatar: reference collection and ware typology ...................................................................................................33
Agnieszka Magdalena Bystron

Production and provenance of Gulf wares unearthed in the Old Doha Rescue Excavations Project......................................................51
José C. Carvajal López, Marcella Giobbe, Elizabeth Adeyemo, Myrto Georgakopoulou, Robert Carter, Ferhan Sakal,
Alice Bianchi & Faisal Al-Na’īmī

Sultanate of Oman (seasons 2016–2018): insights on cultural interaction and long-distance trade ......................................................69
Maurizio Cattani, Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, Dennys Frenez, Randall W. Law & Sophie Méry

Al-Khutm Project 2017/2018: a Bronze Age monumental tower (Bat, Oman) .............................................................................................85
Enzo Cocca, Giacomo Vinci, Maurizio Cattani, Alessandro Armigliato, Antonio Di Michele, Marco Bianchi
& Ilenia Gennuso

The Late Iron Age of central Oman (c.300 BC–AD 300) — new insights from Salūt....................................................................................97
Michele Degli Esposti, Enrica Tagliamonte, Marzia Sasso & Philip Ramorino

The Bronze Age cultural landscape of Wādī al-Zahaimi ...............................................................................................................................115

Bleda S. Düring, Samatar A. Botan, Eric Olijdam & Jordy H.J.M. Aal

New project on Islamic ceramics from al-Balīd: chronology, technology, tradition, and provenance ................................................129
Agnese Fusaro

Triliths, the stone monuments of southern Arabia: preliminary results and a path towards interpretation....................................147
Roman Garba

The gendered household: making space for women in the study of Islamic archaeology in Qatar (poster) ......................................159
Elizabeth R. Hicks
The Palaeolithic of the northern Red Sea — new investigations in Tabuk and Al-Jawf provinces, Saudi Arabia.............................167
Robyn H. Inglis, Anthony Sinclair, Abdullah Alsharekh, Christopher Scott & Dhaifullah Al Otaibi

Variation in the Dadanitic inscriptions: the case of RḌY ..............................................................................................................................187

Fokelien Kootstra

Modern South Arabian material from the diaries of Eduard Glaser ...........................................................................................................193
Anton Kungl

The necropolis of Thāj (Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia): an archaeological and anthropological approach (poster) ...................199
Marie Laguardia, Olivia Munoz & Jérôme Rohmer

‘The numerous islands of Ichthyophagi’: Neolithic fisheries of Delma Island, Abu Dhabi Emirate (UAE) .........................................207
Kevin Lidour & Mark Jonathan Beech

Neolithic settlement pattern and environment evolution along the coast of the northern UAE: the case of Umm al-Quwain
UAQ36 vs. UAQ2 and Akab shell-middens.........................................................................................................................................................223
Sophie Méry, Michele Degli Esposti, David Aoustin, Federico Borgi, Claire Gallou, Chantal Leroyer, Kevin Lidour,
Susanne Lindauer, Gareth W. Preston & Adrian G. Parker

Rhodian amphora trade in Arabia (poster) ......................................................................................................................................................241

Bruno Overlaet, Patrick Monsieur, Sabah Jasim & Eisa Yousif

A Friday Mosque founded in the late first century A.H. at al-Yamāmah: origins and evolution of Islamic religious architecture in
Najd...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................247
Jérémie Schiettecatte, Christian Darles & Pierre Siméon

The Hafit period at Al-Khashbah, Sultanate of Oman: results of four years of excavations and material studies...........................265
Conrad Schmidt & Stephanie Döpper

Early Islamic and Ancient North Arabian graffiti and petroglyphs in Tabūk province — Saudi-Japanese al-Jawf/Tabūk
Archaeological Project (JTAP), March 2017 field season (poster) .................................................................................................................275
Risa Tokunaga, Sumio Fujii & Takuro Adachi

Anthropomorphic figurines from Area 2A of Sārūq al-Ḥadīd, Dubai, UAE ...............................................................................................283

Tatiana Valente, Fernando Contreras, Ahmed Mahmud, Yaaqoub Yousif Ali Al Ali & Mansour Boraik Radwan Karim

The origins of the traditional approach towards the jinn of poetic inspiration in tribal Arab culture ...............................................293
Maxim Yosefi

Papers read at the Seminar for Arabian Studies held at the British Museum, London, 3–5 August 2018 ...................303
Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 49 (2019): 167–186

The Palaeolithic of the northern Red Sea — new investigations in Tabuk

and Al-Jawf provinces, Saudi Arabia

Robyn H. Inglis, Anthony Sinclair, Abdullah Alsharekh,

Christopher Scott & Dhaifullah Al Otaibi

Summary
The land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula is one of the major routes proposed for hominin dispersal out of Africa for both
Homo erectus and H. sapiens populations, and its neighbouring regions are, therefore, key to understanding these dispersals.
Directly adjacent to the land bridge, the Saudi Arabian northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba coastlines have, until now, been
subject to only rapid survey for Palaeolithic archaeology in the 1970s–80s, locating a handful of Palaeolithic artefacts.
A twelve-day reconnaissance survey was undertaken by a Saudi-UK team along the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba coast
in February 2018 for Palaeolithic artefacts, the results of which are presented in this paper. Thirty-four locations were surveyed,
across a range of landscape settings, the majority yielding Acheulean and prepared-core technology lithic artefacts, traditionally
ascribed to Homo erectus and H. sapiens populations in Arabia respectively. These observations, while descriptive and necessarily
brief, identify a previously undocumented record of Palaeolithic archaeology in a largely unexplored part of Saudi Arabia. The
landscape settings in which artefacts were observed provide a geomorphological framework for locating Palaeolithic material in
future surveys to realize the potential of the region to understand hominin dispersals from Africa into Arabia and beyond.

Keywords: Palaeolithic, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea, dispersals, geoarchaeology

Introduction Africa, and latterly the interior of the Arabian Peninsula,

illustrates the potential richness of the archaeological
Hominin populations dispersed from Africa into Europe record of this region, yet some areas close to the route
and Asia from at least the beginning of the Pleistocene, remain under-researched. In particular, while the
with artefacts dated to 2.1 million years ago (mya) in interior of northern Saudi Arabia has been the subject
China (Zhu et al. 2018), 1.8 mya in Georgia (Ferring et of research since the Comprehensive Archaeological
al. 2011), 1.6 mya in the Levant (Bar-Yosef & Belmaker Survey Program (CASP) in the 1970s and 1980s (Ingraham
2010), 1.5 mya in India (Pappu et al. 2011), and 1.4 et al. 1981; Gilmore, Al-Ibrahim & Murad 1982) followed
mya in Italy and Spain (Arzarello et al. 2007; Toro- by a programme of recent research associated with
Moyano et al. 2013). In this context of dispersal, the former lakes and water courses in the northern interior
Sinai land bridge must always have been important for (see e.g. Breeze et al. 2017; Jennings et al. 2016; Scerri
the movement of people and animals between Africa et al. 2015; Shipton et al. 2014; Petraglia et al. 2012), the
and Arabia throughout the Late Pleistocene. It has Saudi Arabian littoral of the northern Red Sea, as well
long been considered the primary, and probably the as the Gulf of Aqaba’s eastern shoreline, have not been
first, route taken by Homo erectus, and later H. sapiens, further investigated for Palaeolithic archaeological
populations during their dispersals from Africa (Bar- evidence since the 1980s. This first research in the 1980s
Yosef & Belfer-Cohen 2013). The Palaeolithic record of identified two Palaeolithic find-spots near Al Muwaylih,
this region, therefore, can inform on the routes, timing, but areas further north or along the Gulf of Aqaba were
and conditions of these first dispersals as well as the not included in this original survey (Ingraham et al.
subsequent Palaeolithic occupation of Arabia. 1981; Gilmore, Al-Ibrahim & Murad 1982).
A wealth of archaeological evidence deriving from This paper reports on the findings of initial,
a long history of research in the Levant, Jordan, East exploratory fieldwork in the region undertaken by a
168 Robyn H. Inglis et al.

UK-Saudi team in spring 2018 and presents some initial along and within, rendering the Red Sea coastline key to
interpretations. The team investigated thirty-four understanding the prehistory of the Arabian Peninsula,
localities chosen across a range of landscape settings. particularly in the dispersals of H. sapiens c.125,000 years
Nearly all of these localities yielded surface lithic ago during Marine Isotope Stage 5 (MIS5; Bailey et al.
artefacts with Palaeolithic technological characteristics. 2015; Inglis et al. 2018).
The necessary speed of fieldwork means that most
localities only yielded a small number of lithic artefacts, Geological setting
for which the interpretation remains preliminary. The
common presence, however, of Palaeolithic artefacts in The far north-west of Saudi Arabia can be divided into
the survey region demonstrates that the littoral region a series of broad landscape zones (Fig. 1). The region is
of the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, like many dominated by the Hejaz Mountains, the northernmost
other under-researched regions, should not be ignored; extension of the Arabian Escarpment which runs
the environments and resources within the region may the length of the Red Sea (Vincent 2008). The Hejaz
have provided a draw for dispersing populations to move Mountains consist of the faulted and tilted Proterozoic

figure 1. The study region in

north-western Saudi Arabia
showing the main landscape zones
discussed in the text, the locations
of recorded MIS5 coral terraces,
and known Palaeolithic find-spots
(elevation data © CGIAR-CSI
SRTM 90 v4.1 database).
 The Palaeolithic of the northern Red Sea — new investigations in Tabuk and Al-Jawf provinces, Saudi Arabia 169

rocks of the Arabian shield (primarily granitic, but also To the south of the Ifal Depression, from Al Khuraybah
including mafic plutons and sedimentary-volcaniclastic southwards, the coastal zone of the northern Red Sea
successions; Johnson 2006) and rise to a height of consists of a relatively low-lying (c.250 m a.s.l.) area of
>2500 m in the study region. They are deeply incised by hills 15–25 km wide, dominated by the mafic plutons of
wadis providing a limited series of constricted routes the Muwaylih suite and the meta-volcanic and meta-
inland to the Arabian Platform which, to the east of sedimentary Ghawjah formation (Johnson 2006). These
these mountains, broadly slopes eastwards to the ‘lower escarpment’ hills separate higher mountains to
Arabian Gulf. the east from the narrow (c.3–7 km) alluvium-dominated
The Gulf of Aqaba, the southern extension of the coastal plain, and are deeply incised (>100 m in places),
Aqaba/Dead Sea Transform, is 180 km long and 25 containing enclosed basins formed by localized faulting
km wide at its widest point, reaching depths of over and differential erosion of basement rocks.
1800 m in its centre. Its steep coastal topography is No MIS5e coral terraces have been identified on
the result of ongoing tectonic uplift recorded in the the Red Sea coastline north of Duba (45 km south of Al
heights of raised coral terraces (between 3 and 26 m Muwaylih) where a fossil terrace at c.4 m a.s.l. extending
a.s.l.) dated to MIS5e (Bosworth et al. 2017; Taviani et for 500 m was dated to MIS5e (Manaa et al. 2016). A
al. 2018; Manaa et al. 2016; Dullo 1990), and continues major geomorphological feature of the surveyed coastal
offshore leaving little by way of a continental shelf. zone, however, is a thick (up to 50 m) fossil reef complex
During periods of low sea level therefore, the Gulf ’s of unknown and potentially significant age that is
shoreline would not have moved laterally far from its preserved at the western, seaward, edge of the lower
present location. The narrow coastal plain between escarpment hills at up to c.70–100 m a.s.l.
the Hejaz Mountains and the Gulf (dominated by The study region is heterogeneous in its landscape
alluvial sedimentation from wadis draining the history and geology, and in the landscape settings
mountains) reaches a maximum of c.20 km close to available to Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers. A number
Haql, but disappears almost completely in the central of features make it appealing for survey. Firstly, while
and southern Gulf (Bayer et al. 1984). the region is dominated by granitic rocks not conducive
South-east of the Gulf of Aqaba lies the Ifal to stone-tool manufacture, substantial exposures
Depression, a broadly triangular, low-lying area running of volcanic and metamorphic rocks (e.g. rhyolite,
for 50 km south from Al Bad’ town. It is surrounded quartzite) would have provided raw material for tool
on its north, east, and west by the Hejaz Mountains, manufacture. Wadis draining the Hejaz mountains
and on its south by the Red Sea. The Depression, filled would have transported raw materials as clasts from
with sediments, is a northern extension of the Red the interior into the coastal regions, increasing the
Sea graben system, with multiple faults both within range of accessible lithologies. Secondly, the narrow
and bordering it (Briem & Blümel 1984). Wādī Ifal, the offshore topography constrains the extent to which late
largest wadi draining the Depression, drains a large Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations impacted upon the
area of the Hejaz Mountains. Other wadis flow into the area of terrestrial landscapes available to Palaeolithic
Depression forming alluvial fans of varying size, age, populations. Given that coral terraces in the southern
and height, particularly to the east where prominent Red Sea have yielded Palaeolithic artefacts, the
alluvial terraces rising up to 50 m above the present potential for similar finds in the northern Red Sea is
baseline border wadis emerging from a fault scarp. high (Zarins, Murad & Al-Yaish 1981; Inglis et al. 2018;
While the northern and eastern parts of the Depression Bailey et al. 2015). Thirdly, the diversity of the landforms
are covered by alluvial deposits, towards the south and in the study region present multiple opportunities for
east a large area of tilted Tertiary sands and gravels is the preservation of Late Pleistocene landscape surfaces
exposed at the surface, the differential erosion of which and deposits where artefacts may have been deposited,
has resulted in an undulating ‘hogback’ topography, preserved, and rendered visible to present-day survey.
with linear bands of gravel of mixed lithologies forming Particularly key are the coastal and marine terraces,
ridges following erosion of interleaved finer sediment which, if they yield artefacts embedded within them,
bands (Briem & Blümel 1984). may provide evidence of coastal occupation and activity.
170 Robyn H. Inglis et al.

Previous archaeological survey The landscape was assessed prior to survey using methods
developed by the authors in the southern Red Sea (Devès
Despite its proximity to the rich Palaeolithic record of et al. 2013; Inglis et al. 2014). Satellite imagery, remote-
the Levant (see papers in Enzel & Bar-Yosef 2017), as well sensing data, and geological maps were used to build up
as known sites in the Saudi Arabian interior (Breeze et a broad-scale understanding of landscape zones and the
al. 2017; Jennings et al. 2016; Scerri et al. 2015; Petraglia predominant geomorphological conditions within them,
et al. 2012; Groucutt & Petraglia 2012), the study area followed by more detailed mapping of landforms with
was last surveyed for Palaeolithic archaeological apparent suitability for the preservation, exposure, and
materials as part of the Comprehensive Archaeological visibility of Palaeolithic artefacts on the surface. Three
Survey Program (CASP) in the 1970–1980s (Ingraham main areas were designated for survey: the eastern
et al. 1981). This survey identified four locations with coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba; the Ifal Depression; and
Palaeolithic artefacts (as well as circular enclosures) the northern Red Sea coastline between Al Khuraybah
on the coastal plain, all on terraces in wadis north- and Al Muwaylih. Within each area landscape settings
east of Al Muwaylih (Fig. 1). Unfortunately, the lithics with high potential for Palaeolithic archaeology were
discovered were mostly undiagnostic, aside from a single targeted (e.g. alluvial terraces), as well as a few settings
‘Middle Palaeolithic’ transverse scraper found at 204-61 with lower potential for comparison (wadi beds, sloping
along with large basalt flakes and blades classified as jebels).
‘probably’ Palaeolithic (1981). The authors report no Survey was carried out in February 2018 with a team
Palaeolithic sites from the Hejaz Mountains, noting that of seven archaeologists completing twelve days of survey:
their absence might be attributable to either survey three in the Gulf of Aqaba, four in the Ifal Depression, and
methodology or geomorphological factors including a further five days around Al Khuraybah/Al Muwaylih.
Quaternary sediment cover (1981). It should also be Each location investigated was given a ‘locality’ number
recognized that the CASP did not investigate the ‘beach (e.g. L0001) and basic descriptive characteristics were
terraces’ along this section of the Red Sea coastline even recorded (e.g. local lithology, topography, sediment,
though it was noted by the authors that similar terraces and vegetation cover). Survey strategy at each locality
had yielded artefacts in the southern Red Sea (1981). consisted of walking short transects, 100–500 m in
The extremely limited nature of the previous survey length according to local conditions. Artefact finds,
history for this region, when considered alongside the as well as key geomorphological features and transect
rich finds of Palaeolithic age artefacts in other parts of ends were assigned ‘waypoint’ numbers (e.g. WP0001)
Arabia, and the geographical proximity of this area to and recorded using handheld GPS (Garmin GPS 62s).
potential dispersal routes for hominins out of Africa At L0006 (see below), given the quality and density of
highlights the need for further research and sets the artefacts, artefact positions were recorded within a
context for a new programme of field survey initiated defined 10 x 5 m area using a Trimble Geo7X and Zephyr
in 2018. Model 2 external antenna running ArcPad 10, while also
noting a wider set of techno-typological characteristics
Survey aims and methodology than at other localities.
Artefacts were photographed in the field and
The 2018 fieldwork aimed to: recorded with a brief techno-typological description,
before being left in place, except for a small number
a) identify the major geomorphological units (thirty-eight pieces) that were deposited in the care
in the study region and assess their potential of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National
for preserving Palaeolithic artefacts and for Heritage (SCTH), Tabuk. These artefacts were collected,
informing models of landscape evolution; in the absence of other available specimens, to facilitate
a) locate and record Palaeolithic artefacts and their the display of the region’s Palaeolithic archaeology in
techno-typological affinities to begin to place the the regional antiquities museum under construction in
Palaeolithic record of the region in its temporal Tabuk. They may also serve as comparatives for future
and regional context. scholars.
 The Palaeolithic of the northern Red Sea — new investigations in Tabuk and Al-Jawf provinces, Saudi Arabia 171

The typological form of certain diagnostic artefacts some embedded underneath and within marine deposits;
has been used to offer a provisional chronological secondly, such terraces preserved surfaces of at least
age for the localities. In the study area the presence MIS5 age where artefacts were likely to be isolated, and
of hand axes, biface cleavers, and other large flake- therefore preserved from, destruction or burial by wadi
based tools are taken as evidence of Acheulean age action. Nine localities (L0001–9) were surveyed along
occupation, while the presence of prepared cores and the Gulf (Fig. 2/a), with Palaeolithic artefacts identified
their prepared-core flake and prepared-core flake-blade at six of them (Fig. 3).
products and, occasionally, large blades indicate a later In the far north of the Gulf, where the coastal plain is
age. Finally, we have recorded a few smaller retouched relatively wide and covered by alluvium, the MIS5 fossil
tools based on blades derived from prismatic cores and coral terraces form prominent cliffs standing up to 20 m
often made of raw materials, sometimes chert, that are above the surrounding sabkhas (Fig. 2/b) (Bosworth
exotic to the locality. These few blade-based tools are et al. 2017). Three localities (L0001–3) with coral
likely to be later in age than artefacts using prepared- terraces were investigated, and a total of six artefacts
core technology. All remaining pieces have been defined of prepared-core and prismatic blade typologies were
for the present as chronologically non-diagnostic. recorded (Fig. 3).
In broader chronological terms, in the absence of In the central part of the Gulf, two localities (L0005
absolute dates as yet, we also chronologically describe & L0006) were examined on Ras Suwayhil el Kabir, a
Acheulean artefacts as being of Early Stone Age (ESA), triangular point extending 3 km into the Gulf from
and those with prepared core technology as Middle the scarp of the Hejaz Mountains, comprising gently
Stone Age (MSA). These terms have been primarily sloping alluvial fan sediments (Fig. 2/a). L0005 is located
used within an African geographic context, with other on a fossil coral terrace capped by alluvium (Fig. 2/c);
researchers in Arabia employing the terminology of an exposed profile through this terrace suggests an
Lower and Middle Palaeolithic, originally defined on interleaving of coral, alluvial fan, and shoreline deposits
European materials (Monnier 2006), for these two at the alluvial unit’s base. No artefacts were recorded.
successive archaeological periods. This specific choice of Four kilometres to the south of L0005, a terrace of
terminology has been made since a primary question of coral and alluvial fan deposits abutting the edge of the
this research is the identification of hominin dispersals mountains was examined as L0006. This terrace is a major
into Arabia. A hypothesis shared among all researchers landscape feature, with incisions exposing sediments
working in Arabia is that Africa represents the original in cliffs up to 40 m tall. It was surveyed by the Saudi
geographical source of hominin populations bearing first Geological Survey in 2013 and contains fossiliferous
Acheulean and later prepared-core technologies. East sands and coral heads up to 25 m a.s.l. (designated
Africa is the probable source area for these dispersing Stations 13 and 14 in Taviani et al. 2018), and while not
hominin populations and here, Early Stone Age and directly dated, was interpreted as deposited during
Middle Stone Age are the higher-level chronological the MIS5e high sea stand (132–115 ka). The coralline
terms used pending absolute dates. deposit at L0006 is covered by a laminar sand unit (c.1 m
thick) tilted towards the sea, which itself is overlain by
Results a 2–3 m-thick (at its seaward extent) unit of rounded
to angular gravel to cobbles in a sandy matrix (Fig. 4).
Gulf of Aqaba On the surface of the terrace four Acheulean hand axes
were found, as well as one discoidal or possibly prepared
Survey localities along the Gulf of Aqaba targeted core and a range of other artefacts made on a variety
locations with fossil coral terraces preserved above the of lithologies from quartzite to indurated shale mostly
present-day shoreline, a number of which had been concentrated in one area (Sinclair et al., in preparation).
dated to MIS5e in earlier surveys (Manaa et al. 2016; The exceptional and localized nature of this assemblage
Bosworth et al. 2017; Taviani et al. 2018). These terraces was recorded by piece plotting of artefacts within a
were targeted for two reasons: firstly, similar terraces in defined 10 x 5 m area, with forty-two artefacts recorded
the southern Red Sea had yielded Palaeolithic artefacts, giving a density of 0.8 artefacts/metre.
172 Robyn H. Inglis et al.

figure 2. a. Map and b–e. general views of localities visited in the Gulf of Aqaba. b. Coral terraces overlain by
colluvial/alluvial deposits adjacent to a bedrock jebel at L0003; c. the surface of a coral terrace at L0005 showing
the Hejaz Mountains forming steep cliffs at the northern end of Ras Suwayhil el Kabir; d. a coral terrace
overlying tilted Tertiary sediments at L0008; e. a coral terrace above a present-day sabkha at L0009, Ras el
Sheikh Hamid (satellite imagery © USGS Landsat ETM+ 2000 Gecover Mosaics; photographs R. Inglis).
 The Palaeolithic of the northern Red Sea — new investigations in Tabuk and Al-Jawf provinces, Saudi Arabia 173

Chronologically
diagnostic artefact
recorded

Small blade
Locality Coordinates Landscape type No. of artefacts recorded

/ Neolithic
Acheulean

Prepared-

Prismatic
blade
core
Gulf of Aqaba
L0001 N 29°20' 79.6" E 34°57'19.0" Coral terrace 2 1
L0002 N 29°09'16.1" E 34°53'45.1" Coral terrace 3 1
L0003 N 29°11'24.4" E 34°54'08.1" Coral terrace 1
L0004 N 28°30'25.8" E 34°47'45.3" Alluvial unit above coral terrace 2 1
L0005 N 28°42'41.6" E 34°47'48.7" Alluvial unit over coral terrace 0
L0006 N 28°40'46.5" E 34°46'55.3" Alluvial unit over coral terrace 47 11
L0007 N 28°21'27.9" E 34°43'44.6" Alluvial unit over coral terrace 7 1
L0008 N 28°10'23.8" E 34°38'17.3" Coral terrace 0
L0009 N 28°02'03.3" E 34°37'17.7" Coral terrace 0
Ifal Depression
L0010 N 28°17'49.0" E 34°54'55.7" Alluvial fan 9 1 4
L0011 N 28°18'51.5" E 34°56'11.0" Tertiary ‘hogback' ridges 20 (3 cobbles with pecked markings) 1 2
L0012 N 28°32'53.7" E 35°03'41.6" Alluvial fan 0
L0013 N 28°25'25.4" E 35°04'12.3" Alluvial fan 5 (incl. 1 cobble with pecked marking) 1 1
L0014 N 28°27'44.3" E 35°04'57.9" Isolated outcrop of sedimentary rock 1
L0015 N 28°21'37.1" E 35°05'07.7" Alluvial fan 0
L0016 N 28°21'09.4" E 35°05 00.2" Alluvial fan 4 1 1 1
L0017 N 28°18'33.2" E 35°03'02.2" Alluvial terrace 8 3
Al Khuraybah to Al Muwaylih
L0018 N 28°03'28.9" E 35°17'56.4" Jebel of isolated alluvium 1 (incl. 1 cobble with pecked marking)
L0019 N 28°03'16.4" E 35°18'09.6" Alluvial terrace 9 2 1
L0020 N 27°40'54.2" E 35°29'25.3" Alluvial terrace 9 1 1
L0021 N 27°40'56.1" E 35°31'14.2" Alluvial terrace 2 1
L0022 N 27°41'24.4" E 35°32'09.1" Alluvial terrace 9 1 3
L0023 N 27°58'03.7" E 35°16'38.5" Alluvial terrace 23 5 7 1
L0024 N 27°51'13.7" E 35°35'00.2" Alluvial terrace 0
L0025 N 27°51'40.2" E 35°35'13.6" Alluvial terrace 12 3
L0026 N 27°50'13.2" E 35°36'11.7" Jebel of bedrock 0
L0027 N 27°48'10.6" E 35°36'08.0" Wadi bed 0
L0028 N 27°54'09.7" E 35°21'26.3" Alluvial terrace 20 2 3
L0029 N 27°58'02.3" E 35°16'26.5" Alluvial terrace 21 1 4 1
L0030 N 27°58'45.9" E 35°15'00.5" Fossil corral terrace 1 1

figure 3. Localities and artefacts recorded in the 2018 reconnaissance survey. For diagnostic artefacts recorded: Acheulean
includes hand axes and cleavers; prepared-core includes both prepared cores, prepared-core flakes, and flake-blades; small
blade/Neolithic includes small blades made on prismatic cores that are similar to artefacts recorded from pre-pottery Neolithic
sites in the region. The difference between the total number of artefacts recorded and the diagnostic artefacts is the number of
non-diagnostic artefacts.
174 Robyn H. Inglis et al.

figure 4. L0006 geological setting and examples of hand axes from L0006: a. view of a terrace top formed of coral
deposits overlain by a unit of cobbles interpreted as alluvial deposition. People are standing at the location of the
detailed artefact recording grid; b. a large pointed hand axe with careful retouch to define the tip; c–e. three examples
of hand axes made using different raw material. Careful retouch has been used to define one straight lateral cutting
edge with the other remaining thicker, presumably for holding in the hand (photographs A. Sinclair).
 The Palaeolithic of the northern Red Sea — new investigations in Tabuk and Al-Jawf provinces, Saudi Arabia 175

These hand axes range in length from 251 to 146 L0008 and L0009 are located on the low-lying,
mm and in maximum breadth from 106 to 66 mm. Six undulating hogback landscape of Ras el Sheikh Hamid,
have been clearly made on large flake blanks, but from ridges that provide a large range of knappable materials.
different materials, including basalt, rhyolite, and At L0008, where a coral terrace overlay both sandstone
quartzite, while the seventh may have been made on bedrock and Tertiary deposits, much of this gravel was
a naturally exfoliated, angular clast. There is variation thermally shattered. No artefacts were observed on
in the degree of finishing with greater evidence of either the coral terrace surface or the surrounding slopes
retouching of the tip rather than the butt where a (Fig. 2/d). At L0009 the landscape consists primarily of
possible cortical surface on one, and the original flake coralline carbonate rocks, with no obviously knappable
blank surface on the others, remain visible; each has a materials present. No artefacts were observed.
finely prepared cutting edge down one lateral margin.
The artefacts lying on the terrace surface at L0006 Ifal Depression
were either deposited on, or derived from, an apparently
alluvial unit which is undergoing ongoing deflation and Landscapes within the Ifal Depression can be broadly
erosion; excavation at the locality is necessary to test divided into two types: to the north and east, alluvial
this hypothesis. Examination of surfaces of the alluvium terraces border wadis that drain the mountains; to the
to the east revealed no further artefacts, suggesting that west and south, low-lying hogback ridges of tilted Tertiary
L0006 represents either a defined locus of activity or a sediments (Briem & Blümel 1984). Localities in both
restricted exposure of artefact-bearing sediment. Just types of landscape were visited, as the two landscapes
beyond the grid, to both the north and the south, three have different potential for preservation, exposure,
more hand axes were recorded as single finds in gullies and visibility of Palaeolithic archaeology. The hogback
that cut through fine-grained, green-grey laminated landscape is predominantly erosional, and therefore has
sediments (indicative of low-energy deposition by good potential for the exposure and visibility, but not
water). Since these green sediments are capped by the preservation, of artefacts that may be removed by this
alluvial unit, it is possible that these isolated hand axes erosion. By contrast, the alluvial deposits may conceal
also originate from the same context as those recorded artefacts within them, but deflation of these deposits
in the grid, and have been washed down into the gullies. through winnowing of fine material may expose buried
Significant questions remain about site stratigraphy and artefacts, as well as impacting little on the lateral
its environmental and taphonomic history, primarily location of artefacts deposited on top of them. This
how Acheulean age artefacts along with possible deflationary environment, and the ‘pavement’ of clasts
artefacts were made using prepared-core technology to it produces, also provide excellent artefact visibility and
be situated stratigraphically above (and therefore later these alluvial deposits therefore possess potential for
than) an MIS5e coral terrace, requiring future detailed locating Palaeolithic artefacts.
geomorphological and chronological investigation. Eight localities were examined in the Ifal Depression
At the southern end of the Gulf of Aqaba, four (Fig. 5), six on alluvial terraces (L0010, L0012, L0013,
localities were visited. L0004 and L0007 are both located L0015, L0016, L0017), one on the hogback ridges (L0011),
on coral terrace deposits capped by alluvial deposits and one on an isolated hill of sedimentary rock to the east
similar to the localities surveyed at L0006. At L0004, two of the depression (L0014). No artefacts were observed
artefacts were recorded, one a retouched blade tool made at L0014, but at L0011, nine Palaeolithic artefacts were
using chert; at L0007, a series of four lightly weathered found as well as three rounded cobbles bearing pecked
lithics, including one non-diagnostic bifacial piece, were designs, possibly Thamudic in age (Fig. 6).
observed alongside a well-rolled brown quartzite hand Four localities (L0010, L0013, L0016, and L0017)
axe. The variable condition of these artefacts suggests yielded Acheulean and prepared-core technology
that pieces had both weathered out from the underlying artefacts, as well as a number of prismatic blade artefacts
alluvium (where they may already have been redeposited that may be younger, and a few of potentially Neolithic
from their original environment, e.g. the rolled hand age (Fig. 7). All artefacts were weathered and lightly or
axe), as well as being later deposited on the terrace. moderately rolled, and no localized concentrations of
176 Robyn H. Inglis et al.

figure 5. a. Overview of localities visited in the Ifal Depression; b. ‘hogback’ topography at L0011; c. the surface of a hill of
sedimentary rock at L0014; d. the surface of an alluvial terrace at L0016 (satellite imagery © USGS Landsat ETM+ 2000 Gecover
Mosaics; photographs R. Inglis).

artefacts were found at these localities. Furthermore, Al Khuraybah to Al Muwaylih

the condition of the artefacts suggests that they had
been moved from an original and different location The coastline between the towns of Al Khuraybah and Al
of manufacture or use. The condition of clasts on the Muwaylih was a specific focus of investigation as it was
surface of the six alluvial terrace localities showed the alluvial terraces above Al Muwaylih that had yielded
significant variation in the degree of ‘polish’ present; the only reported Palaeolithic artefacts from the region
while the development of such polish is not a linear (Ingraham et al. 1981). Due to their favourability for the
process, such variability probably results from multiple preservation, exposure, and visibility of lithic artefacts,
phases of alluvial deposition. alluvial terraces were the predominant landscape
 The Palaeolithic of the northern Red Sea — new investigations in Tabuk and Al-Jawf provinces, Saudi Arabia 177

figure 7. A series of artefacts recorded from localities in the Ifal

Depression: a. a pic; b. a large flake with a fine lateral edge created
using bifacial retouch; c/i. a weathered convergent flake with a
broken tip; c/ii. a quartz flake; d. a horse-hoof shaped core on a
round cobble (photographs A. Sinclair).

setting surveyed in this region, both the large terraces

(tens of metres high) along the narrow coastal plain,
and smaller alluvial terraces in enclosed basins situated
within the lower escarpment area between the coastal
plain and the Hejaz Mountains (Fig. 8).

Alluvial terraces

Three localities (L0020, L0021, and L0022) were surveyed

figure 6. Pecked Thamudic designs on quartzite on alluvial terraces directly to the south and east of
cobbles at L0011 (photographs A. Sinclair). Al Muwaylih, close to sites with Palaeolithic artefacts
178 Robyn H. Inglis et al.

figure 8. a. The coastal area between Al Khuraybah and Al Muwaylih showing the localities visited; b. L0025: a row of
funerary cairns on the surface of an alluvial terrace; c. the surface of an alluvial terrace at L0028; d. L0031: a fossil coral terrace
at the edge of a lower escarpment (satellite imagery © USGS Landsat ETM+ 2000 Gecover Mosaics; photographs R. Inglis).

discovered by the CASP (204-58, 204-60, and 204-61). and prepared-core technology artefacts (see Fig. 3). On
The terraces here survive at two levels; a lower terrace the north bank of the wadi at L0024, on a c.15 m terrace
(c.10 m above the present wadi bed) of clasts and sand with clasts that are less polished than at the localities
with modern funerary cairns, and a higher terrace (c.20– on the southern side, twelve artefacts made on a range
30 m above the present wadi bed) consisting of a heavily of lithologies (basalt, schist/shale, quartzite) were
polished and patinated desert pavement of rounded observed, a small number are of clear prepared-core
to sub-angular clasts on a slightly undulating surface. typology.
Twenty lithic artefacts were found across all three An isolated alluvial terrace 27 km north-west of Al
localities, with prismatic blade-based artefacts of post Muwaylih, thought to be equivalent to CASP site 204-78
MSA or Neolithic age at L0020 and L0021 respectively. where undiagnostic Palaeolithic artefacts were observed
At L0022, the nine artefacts include Acheulean tools (Ingraham et al. 1981) was surveyed as L0028. This
 The Palaeolithic of the northern Red Sea — new investigations in Tabuk and Al-Jawf provinces, Saudi Arabia 179

terrace stands approximately 20 m high and is roughly (three of MSA type), were recorded as well as a line of
rectangular; here, the surface comprises clasts with a funerary cairns along the long axis of the terrace (see
moderate degree of polish that retains distinctions in Fig. 3).
colour between the various lithologies present (basalt, Wādī Sharma and another, smaller, wadi flow through
quartzite, shale, etc.). On this terrace, twenty artefacts a roughly rectangular basin, 4.5 x 1 km, 35 km to the
were recorded with a small number of pieces showing north-west of the Al Jim basin. This basin was surveyed
clear Acheulean and prepared-core typology (see Fig. 3). at two localities: L0018 was located on a hill of alluvial
Seven kilometres south-east of the town of Sharma, a sediments and bedrock, and L0019 on a low alluvial
low terrace (c.25 m a.s.l.) of alluvium forms a 10 km-long terrace (2–3 m) in the centre of the basin. No artefacts
peninsula (mostly now privately enclosed) that has been were found at L0018, although two robbed-out funerary
isolated by present-day wadi beds that flow around its cairns were observed at its top, one accompanied by a
landward edges. The alluvium was probably deposited Thamudic inscription on a large quartzite clast. On the
by Wādī Sharma, with the later change in flow direction alluvial terrace, nine artefacts were recorded with two
and terrace isolation related to tectonic activity or sea- artefacts of prepared-core technology, including a single
level change. The main terrace was surveyed at L0031, prepared core and one small prismatic blade.
with a second, smaller terrace remnant isolated from The northernmost basin that was investigated lies at
the south-eastern extent of the main terrace surveyed the foot of Jebel Zehad, north-east of Al Khuraybah. It is
at L0023 and L0029. Finally, a transect was surveyed up bisected by Wādī Ainounah, a major watercourse in the
onto the 70–100 m a.s.l. terrace which is capped by the region, which until the 1970s contained perennial flow,
ancient coral reef (L0030). indicative of springs in its catchment. Three localities
The survey localities on the alluvial terrace yielded were visited in this basin, all on alluvial terraces. L0032
a wide range of artefact types and lithologies and in is situated on a low (3–4 m) terrace in the centre of
places a range of pieces that look like coherent debitage the basin; L0033 consists of two flat-topped terrace
assemblages (see Fig. 3). At L0031, six artefacts were remnants up to 10 m high, the larger of which overlay a
recorded, two made using a prepared-core technology vein of caramel-coloured quartz utilized in many of the
and another on a prismatic blade. At L0023, survey artefacts recovered from its surface. At L0032, fourteen
recorded twenty-three Acheulean and prepared-core artefacts were recorded with examples of Acheulean
artefacts as well as one prismatic blade piece (Fig. 9). and prepared-core artefacts present; at L0033, ten
Survey of the northern part of the alluvial remnant artefacts were recorded with four diagnostic examples
(L0029) confirmed a lower density scatter of artefacts of Acheulean typology.
with twenty-one artefacts across the wider surface, In the Jebel Zehad basin a final locality, L0034, was
including some relatively recent clast reduction examined on the south-eastern edge of a large alluvial
assemblages. Finally, at L0030 a single relatively fresh, terrace that extends 12 km north-east of the Ifal
MSA prepared core was found lying on alluvium and Depression. At the foot of the terrace, three Acheulean
aeolian sand at the base of the terrace made on hornfels. hand axes and a cleaver were recovered from the surface.
While two hand axes were rolled and weathered, another,
Enclosed basins with sharp edges and yellowish patina, appears to have
emerged recently from the terrace sediment (Fig. 10).
The southernmost surveyed basin, Al Jim, which is This is a distinct possibility since the lower part of the
around 6 km wide, was investigated at four locations terrace has undergone limited bulldozing. It may also be a
(L0024, L0025, L0026, and L0027). No artefacts were separate, lower terrace than the upper surface of the main
located on surfaces of active sedimentation at the edges terrace situated c.20 m higher. The clasts on the upper
of the basin (L0024), in the active wadi bed (L0027), or surface of the main terrace were very heavily patinated.
on top of an isolated hill of bedrock (L0026). At L0025, Nine artefacts were recorded, with two artefacts made
however, a low-lying alluvial terrace (Fig. 7/b), 400 m using prepared-core typology and two deriving from
in length and c.3–4 m above the surrounding landscape, a prismatic blade core. Further work to discern the
twelve artefacts of different typologies and lithologies stratigraphy and origin of the lithics particularly in the
180 Robyn H. Inglis et al.

figure 9. Exemplar artefacts from L0023: a. a large piercer made on a heavily weathered chert — note the many instances of
pot-lid fractures resulting from thermal damage to the surface; b. a large discoidal core on a rolled cobble — note the variation
in weathering between the two sides of the artefact; c. a selection of flake debitage resulting from the working of a single rolled
cobble (photographs A. Sinclair).
 The Palaeolithic of the northern Red Sea — new investigations in Tabuk and Al-Jawf provinces, Saudi Arabia 181

figure 10. View to the south-west from the upper alluvial terrace at L0034, looking out over the basin with the ESA find-spots
indicated in the upper image including: a. a biface manufactured on a basalt flake with bifacial retouching used to create a
refined lateral cutting edge, found in the side of a small gully; b. a chert hand axe with yellowish patina suggesting a recent
exposure of artefacts — note the modern break damage showing the greyer character of chert underneath; c. the location of a
basalt flake/cleaver from a bulldozed sediment area in gully (photographs R. Inglis).

lower part of the terrace is a key priority for future survey, artefact-bearing deposits in this important but under-
given the potential for in situ archaeology. researched region. The restricted time at any one site,
along with a policy of leaving artefacts on site for
Discussion potential future research, also limits the information
that could be recorded for any artefact to a brief
The time constraints of a short, exploratory field season typological description, some of which is sufficiently
necessitated a rapid assessment of a restricted number diagnostic to generate broad chronological information.
of localities to evaluate the potential for Palaeolithic The presence of artefacts in particular geomorphological
182 Robyn H. Inglis et al.

contexts also helps to understand where, and under Of all the localities investigated in 2018, L0006 is
what conditions, Palaeolithic artefacts are preserved the most archaeological significant at this early stage
and accessible to present-day survey in this landscape. of research and will require further investigation. As
noted above, seven hand axes were recorded at this site,
Artefact typology, technology, and regional along with a range of flakes, some retouched, and simple
comparisons flake cores with one possible prepared or discoidal core.
All artefacts found at the site are in relatively good
Palaeolithic artefacts have been recorded at almost condition — unrolled with sharp edges to the lateral
all the localities visited in all three areas of the survey margins and well-defined ridges between the surface
region. Despite the small numbers of artefacts that flake scars. While not in situ within a sealed stratigraphic
could be recorded at any one locality, the presence context, their condition indicates that the artefacts
of artefacts at so many of the localities briefly visited in this locality have not been moved any significant
signals a potentially rich Palaeolithic record awaiting distance by natural forces, although variation in surface
further investigation in this region. Artefact typology patination between upper and lower surfaces of two
demonstrates clear evidence of both Acheulean hand axes may be indicative of their surface exposure at
occupation (hand axes and large flake-based tools) the current locality for some time.
and occupation of the area by hominins who used a While there is no absolute date as yet for this locality,
prepared-core technology for the production of flake the size and form of some of these hand axes allow
and flake-blade tools comparable to other parts of preliminary comparisons with other Acheulean sites in
Arabia. The majority of artefacts for both Acheulean Arabia and the Levant. A number of hand axes are similar
and prepared-core technologies were made using in size, shape, and raw material to examples recorded at
basalt, quartzite, or metamorphosed schists and shales, the site of Gesher Benet Ya’akov in the Levant (Goren-
exploited in the form of rolled or angular clasts or large Inbar et al. 2018; Sharon, Alperson-Afil & Goren-Inbar
naturally exfoliated flakes. Even though the majority of 2011) and similar to hand axes recorded at Dawadmi in
the artefacts observed cannot be definitively ascribed central Saudi Arabia (Petraglia, Drake & Alsharekh 2009)
to a chronological period on the basis of typology and at Qana 1 in the Nefud desert (Shipton et al. 2014).
alone, the raw materials used suggest that these The Acheulean assemblages at Gesher Benet Ya’akov
other artefacts belong to the Acheulean or prepared- have been dated to between 800 and 700 kya/MIS20-
core assemblage. Finally, a small number of localities 19 (Goren-Inbar 2017), and signals the appearance of
present artefacts made on prismatic blade cores, from the Large Flake Acheulean (LFA) in the Levant (Sharon
apparently non-local materials such as chert. It is 2010; Sharon & Barsky 2015) an industrial complex with
very likely that these artefacts will date later than the claimed African affinity (Sharon 2010), but the situation
prepared-core industries, but the small number of such may be more complicated. There are, as yet, no cleavers
pieces observed to date, and the lack of clear diagnostic recovered at this site, and such tools are common
retouched types renders the assignment of a broader elements at other LFA sites.
typological name inappropriate at this moment. These
pieces, however, do not appear to be similar in materials Artefact distribution and geomorphology
used or reduction technique to the blade tools recovered
from pre-pottery Neolithic sites in this region, such as Geomorphological conditions at each of the localities
Wādī Sharma (Fuji 2018). appear to play a key role in the ability of each
Most lithic artefacts observed appear to have landform to preserve, expose, and render visible
been heavily weathered and patinated, as might be Palaeolithic artefacts to survey. Localities with
expected of surface finds artefacts exposed to the harsh unfavourable conditions, such as the highly erosive
conditions of the Arabian climate. However, there are a slope of a steep jebel (L0026) or an active, sediment-
small number of artefacts with fresh edges and surfaces rich wadi bed (L0027) did not yield artefacts of any
(L0006 and L0023), suggesting the possibility for finding age; even if artefacts were deposited here in the past,
buried, in situ archaeological deposits. they would no longer be accessible to survey due to
 The Palaeolithic of the northern Red Sea — new investigations in Tabuk and Al-Jawf provinces, Saudi Arabia 183

their geomorphological setting. In contrast, and as throughout the entire study region, documenting
expected from observations in similar environments the past occupation of the region by hominin
(Foley & Lahr 2015; Rose et al. 2011), the ‘pavement’ populations. This region can therefore no longer
surface of alluvial terraces and fan remnants proved be ignored when examining hominin dispersals
to be an excellent geomorphological setting for the from Africa into Arabia and beyond.
preservation, exposure, and visibility of lithic artefacts 2. Artefacts were found both along the coastal
of Palaeolithic age. Some variability was present; on plain as well as further inland in enclosed basins,
alluvial surfaces where these pavements were less suggesting that populations were moving into
well-developed and where terraces continued to be the hills or into the Arabian interior from the
incised by run-off (e.g. in the alluvial-topped terraces coastal plain (or vice versa) using the basins
of the Gulf of Aqaba), the lack of Palaeolithic artefacts along the route. This is not surprising since such
maybe explained by the less favourable conditions basins might trap water and attract animals for
for the preservation and visibility of artefacts. hunting. As well as preserving artefacts on top of
Furthermore, even if all of the alluvial terraces had the alluvial terraces, sedimentation in the basins
similarly developed surface conditions, it cannot might also have buried Palaeolithic archaeology;
be assumed that all of the artefacts recorded on the this possibility requires future investigation with
current surface were deposited on the terrace surfaces targeted survey and excavation.
themselves (Knight & Zerboni 2018). As has been 3. No artefacts were found in direct association with
suggested through the variable patinations of the marine deposits, and therefore there remains no
hand axes at L0034, it is possible that artefacts were direct link between immediate shorelines and
deposited during alluvial deposition, later becoming hominin artefact deposition, such as exists in
exposed and mixed with any material deposited on the Mediterranean (Galili et al. 2018). Yet unlike
the surface through deflation. Future work including the southern Red Sea, where the shoreline has
detailed mapping and absolute dating of terraces shifted laterally tens of kilometres over glacial
coupled with test excavations, will be necessary to cycles, the steep offshore topography of the
provide a framework for understanding the relative northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba means that
age depths of the observed surface assemblages. even the small numbers of Palaeolithic artefacts
Although the observed relationships between observed in the present-day coastal region
landforms and artefact visibility requires systematic during this preliminary survey would never have
testing, our work, alongside that in similar environments, been deposited far from the shoreline, raising
underlines the key role geomorphology plays in the potential that the populations that deposited
shaping lithic artefact distributions and therefore these artefacts may have been exploiting coastal
must be integrated into survey strategy, recording, and resources as well as terrestrial ones as they
interpretation (Fanning et al. 2009; Holdaway & Fanning dispersed out of Africa.
2014; Inglis et al. 2019).
Conclusions
Hominin activity in the landscape
The 2018 reconnaissance survey described above has
Given the short period of survey, the dynamism of the proved the potential of the north-west of Saudi Arabia
region’s landscape, and the strong geomorphological to inform on ESA, MSA, and later activity in the region,
controls on artefact distribution, interpretations and begins to place the important Palaeolithic record of
of hominin landscape use and dispersals from the this region in its cultural context. Its observations make
preliminary observations must remain broad in scale, a strong case for the expansion of work in this region
but still hold important implications for understanding to record the rich archaeology potentially associated
with the first hominin dispersals out of Africa, but one
dispersals. Three observations can be made:
which, like all others, must be understood in its dynamic
1. Palaeolithic artefacts were found in low number geomorphological context.
184 Robyn H. Inglis et al.

Acknowledgements Bayer H-J., Hötzl H., Jado A.R. & Quiel F. 1984. Midyan
region. Pages 27–32 in A.R. Jado & H. Hötzl (eds),
We thank HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Quaternary Period in Saudi Arabia. ii. Sedimentological,
President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and hydrogeological, hydrochemical, geomorphological,
Antiquities (SCTH), KSA, Prof. Ali Al-Ghabban, Mr Jamal geochronological and climatological investigations in
Omar, and Dr Abdullah Al Zahrani for granting fieldwork western Saudi Arabia. Vienna: Springer-Verlag.
permission and for their interest in and support of our Bosworth W., Montagna P., Pons-Branchu E., Rasul N.
work. The members of the 2018 field team were: Prof. & Taviani M. 2017. Seismic hazards implications
Anthony Sinclair (University of Liverpool), Dr Robyn of uplifted Pleistocene coral terraces in the Gulf of
Inglis (University of York, Macquarie University) Aqaba. Scientific Reports 7: 38.
Dr Abdullah Alsharekh (King Saud University), Dr Breeze P.S., Groucutt H.S., Drake N.A., Louys J., Scerri
Dhaifullah Al Otaibi (National Museum, Riyadh, SCTH), E.M.L., Armitage S.J. ... Petraglia M.D. 2017.
Mr Christopher Scott (UoL), Mr Saud Al Huwaiti (SCTH
Prehistory and palaeoenvironments of the western
Al Bad’), and Mr Abdulillah Timani (SCTH Tabuk).
Nefud Desert, Saudi Arabia. Archaeological Research in
Funding for the field season was generously provided
Asia 10: 1–16.
by the SCTH, with participation from Robyn Inglis,
Briem E. & Blümel W.D. 1984. Contributions to the
Anthony Sinclair, and Christopher Scott supported by
Quaternary geomorphology of the Ifal Depression.
the Gerald Averay Wainwright Fund for Near Eastern
Pages 47–60 in A.R. Jado & H. Hötzl (eds),
Archaeology at the University of Oxford, and the
Quaternary Period in Saudi Arabia. ii. Sedimentological,
Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology at
hydrogeological, hydrochemical, geomorphological,
the University of Liverpool. Robyn Inglis also gratefully
geochronological and climatological investigations in
acknowledges funding from the European Union’s
Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme western Saudi Arabia. Vienna: Springer-Verlag.
under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions grant Devès M.H., Inglis R.H., Meredith-Williams M.G., Al
agreement No. 660343, ‘SURFACE: Human-Landscape- Ghamdi S., Alsharekh A. & Bailey G. 2013. Palaeolithic
Interactions and Global Dispersals: The Surface Record survey in southwest Saudi Arabia: Methodology and
of Palaeolithic Arabia’. preliminary results. Adumatu 27: 7–30.
Dullo W-C. 1990. Facies, fossil record, and age of
Pleistocene reefs from the Red Sea (Saudi Arabia).
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Authors’ addresses
Robyn H. Inglis, (correspondence address) Department of Archaeology, University of York, The King’s Manor,
Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EP, UK; Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney,
Australia.
e-mail robyn.inglis@york.ac.uk
Anthony Sinclair, Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, 12–14 Abercromby
Square, Liverpool L69 7WZ, UK.
e-mail A.G.M.Sinclair@liverpool.ac.uk
Abdullah Alsharekh, Department of Archaeology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;
(correspondence address) PO Box 26395, Riyadh 11486, Saudi Arabia.
e-mail asharekh@hotmail.com
Christopher Scott, Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, 12–14 Abercromby
Square, Liverpool L69 7WZ, UK.
e-mail C.B.Scott@liverpool.ac.uk
Dhaifullah Al Otaibi, Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, PO Box 66680, Riyadh 11586, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia.
e-mail OtaibiD@scth.gov.sa