The prehistoric fisher-gatherers of the western coast of the Arabian Sea: a case of seasonal sedentarization?

Abstract

The analysis of the settlement structures, material culture assemblages and handicraft activities of the aceramic, fifth millennium bp shell middens of the coast of Oman has shown that sedentarization had already taken place in this area among the Middle Holocene fisher-gatherers. These observations have been possible thanks to the study of four settlements and their habitation structures that indicate the relative permanence of their inhabitants throughout a long period of the year, at least during the autumn and winter months. The archaeological evidence for seasonal movements towards the regions of the interior is very limited, although ethnographic parallels would suggest that they occurred at least in the summer. Of particular importance are the observations regarding the handicraft activities. They show that some of the sites were related to the production of specific prestige and utilitarian goods such as polished stone earrings, different types of necklace beads and marine shell fishhooks.