Palaeobotanical and palynological studies in South Arabia

Abstract

The present article is based on the first palaeobotanical studies of sediments at the ancient sea-port of Qana (coastal region of South Yemen, I BC–VI AD), and on the palaeoethnobotanical and palynological evidence from the site of Raybun (continental region of the Hadhramaut Province, VIII-VI BC–I-II AD). The facts presented in this paper allow us to conclude that two types of economy existed in the region, with different geographical locations, and to reveal the features of cultivated flora in the ancient cases of Raybun which was perhaps connected with the ancient irrigation system. The complicated vegetation dynamics for Raybun are shown here too. Two stages of the anthropogenic influence in the phytocoenoses are also considered in this paper. From Qana three pollen grains of cf. Commiphora sp. are reported. Remains of some fossil and modern plant seeds and pollen are illustrated with photographs or SEM-micrographs.