A Middle Paleolithic Assemblage from Jebel Barakah, Coastal Abu Dhabi Emirate

Abstract

Until recently, our knowledge of the Paleolithic period in Arabia has been limited. Occasional Paleolithic tools were collected and reported early in the last century, such as the discovery of a Lower Paleolithic handaxe from central Arabia (Cornwall, 1946). Geological teams exploring Arabia for its mineral wealth reported on the identification of Acheulean implements (Field, 1971; Overstreet, 1973). In the late 1970s, knowledge concerning the Paleolithic of Arabia began to change as archaeologists began a systematic, five year comprehensive program to survey various provinces of Saudi Arabia. A large number of archaeological sites, of varying periods, were discovered across the country. As a result of survey efforts, nearly 200 Acheulean and Middle Paleolithic sites were discovered in the central, western and south-western provinces. Of special importance were three old sites, namely, Shuwayhitiyah in the north, site 226-63 near Najran in the south and Tathlith in the southwest of Saudi Arabia. These sites were thought to belong to an early part of the Pleistocene on typological grounds (Whalen and Pease, 1992). In addition, important research into the Middle Paleolithic along the Red Sea coast has progressed and a possible Lower Paleolithic site has been reported in central Saudi Arabia (Petraglia and Alsharekh, 2003; Alsharekh, 2007). The only in situ, dated site excavated in Arabia is that of Saffa¯qah, near Dawa¯dmi in central Saudi Arabia (Whalen et al., 1983; Petraglia et al., 2009). Uranium–thorium dating has placed Acheulean artifacts to a minimum of 200 ka (Whalen et al., 1982). In southern Yemen, the discovery of five pre-Acheulean sites has been claimed within the Hadhramaut Mountains (Whalen et al., 1982).