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The Nexus of Cult and Pastoralism in Neolithic Northwest Arabia: Contextualising the Mustatil Phenomenon Cover

The Nexus of Cult and Pastoralism in Neolithic Northwest Arabia: Contextualising the Mustatil Phenomenon

Open Quaternary
Volume 10 (2024): Issue 1
By: ,  ,  ,  ,   and    
Open Access
|Oct 2024
Figures & tables

Figures & Tables

Figure 1

Key architectural features of a mustatil. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 2

Map of excavated mustatils in AlUla County. © AAKSA/PAKEP.

Figure 3

Aerial view of IDIHA-0011233, photo facing south. Note the area still holds significant water after rain. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 4

Plan of IDIHA-F-0011073. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 5

Human remains found within IDIHA-F-0011073. 5A: IB0463. 5B: IB0397. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Table 1

Quantification of faunal remains from IDIHA-F-0011073.

TAXANUMBER% OF NUMBERWEIGHT (g)% OF WEIGHT
Cattle18729%22030%
Bos sp.44768%50568%
Indeterminate Caprine112%30%
Indeterminate112%132%
Total656100%741100%
Table 2

Radiocarbon assays from IDIHA-F-0011073.

LAB IDSAMPLE IDMATERIALCONTEXTANALYSIS14C (BP)CALIBRATED DATE BC 68.2% (1σ)CALIBRATED DATE BC 95.4% (2σ)
UGAMS56659#0539Cattle Tooth004Bioapatite5990 ± 254933–4920 (8.4%)
4908–4838 (59.8%)		4948–4793 (95.4%)
UGAMS56661#0549Cattle Tooth014Bioapatite5980 ± 254904–4861 (37.7%)
4856–4831 (19.4%)
4816–4800 (11.1%)		4942–4791 (95.4%)
UGAMS56660#0547Cattle Tooth012Bioapatite5940 ± 254846–4784 (63.8%)
4743–4734 (4.5%)		4898–4866 (10.7%)
4850–4724 (84.7%)
UGAMS56615IB0463Human Bone004Bioapatite5950 ± 204878–4874 (2.0%)
4846–4791 (66.3%)		4902–4862 (16.4%)
4854–4776 (73.3%)
4758–4728 (5.7%)
UGAMS56881IB0397Human Bone012Bioapatite5510 ± 254435–4430 (5.9%)
4362–4336 (62.4%)		4444–4417 (16.7%)
4404–4328 (786.8%)
4282–4272 (1.9%)
Figure 6

A: Aerial photo of IDIHA-F-0011223, note this mustatil has been turned into a pendant, photo facing south. The chamber is visible in the right-hand side of the photo. 6B: The chamber of IDIHA-F-0011223 during excavation. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Table 3

Quantification of faunal remains from IDIHA-F-0011223.

TAXANUMBER% OF NUMBERWEIGHT (g)% OF WEIGHT
Cattle17230.7%27348.8%
Bos sp.26747.7%17932.0%
Indeterminate Caprine20.4%50.9%
Small Ruminant20.4%50.9%
Large Ungulate20.4%81.4%
Indeterminate11520.5%8915.9%
Total560100%559100%
Table 4

Radiocarbon assay from IDIHA-F-0011223.

LAB IDSAMPLE IDMATERIALCONTEXTANALYSIS14C (BP)CALIBRATED DATE BC 68.2% (1σ)CALIBRATED DATE BC 95.4% (2σ)
UGAMS58732#1048Cattle Tooth004Bioapatite5930 ± 254840–4782 (56.6%)
4748–4730 (11.7%)		4888–4870 (4.4%)
4848–4722 (91.0%)
Figure 7

Aerial photograph of IDIHA-0011182, prior to excavation, photo facing northeast. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 8

Plan of IDIHA-F-0018247, orthostats are in light grey. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 9

A: Feature 1, post excavation. 9B: Feature 4, post excavation. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 10

In situ faunal elements from IDIHA-F-0018247. 10A: Caprine remains a top of Feature 1. 10B: Cattle horns deposited in Feature 4. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Table 5

Quantification of faunal remains from IDIHA-F-0018247.

TAXANUMBER% OF NUMBERWEIGHT (g)% OF WEIGHT
Cattle242%429.218.7%
Bos sp.403.4%226.79.9%
Goat595.0%365.815.9%
Sheep/Goat1119.3%580.525.3%
Indeterminate Caprine46038.8%292.712.7%
Gazelle20.2%39.21.7%
Small Ruminant20.2%5.50.2%
Ruminant12510.5%101.54.4%
Large Ruminant30.3%22.31.0%
Large Ungulate40.3%57.12.5%
Hare30.3%40.2%
Fox10.1%3.80.2%
Small Carnivore30.3%1.50.1%
Rodent80.7%30.1%
Reptile10.1%0.9<0.1%
Bird20.2%0.2<0.1%
Indeterminate33628.3%163.57.1%
Total1,184100%2,297.4100%
Figure 11

A representative sample of the small ruminant remains found in mustatil IDIHA-F-0018247: 11A: Goat petrous bones. 11B: Caprine isolated maxillary teeth. 11C: Caprine portions of the skull (occipital bones). 11D: Caprine and sheep/goat maxillaries with teeth. 11E: goat horn cores. 11F: Gazelle horn sheath. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Table 6

Radiocarbon assays from IDIHA-F-0018247.

LAB IDSAMPLE IDMATERIALCONTEXTANALYSIS14C (BP)CALIBRATED DATE BC 68.2% (1σ)CALIBRATED DATE BC 95.4% (2σ)
UGAMS56871#0397Charcoal
Chenopodiaceae sp.		021Charcoal6270 ± 255302–5254 (59.4%)
5223–5215 (8.9%)		5316–5207 (95.0%)
5140–5135 (0.5%)
UGAMS53909#0533Keratin
(Goat Horn)		008Collagen6120 ± 305204–5176 (17.5%)
5067–4992 (50.7%)		5208–5152 (23.2%)
5126–4947 (72.2%)
UGAMS53910#0411Keratin
(Cattle Horn)		023Collagen6100 ± 305200–5187 (6.8%)
5051–4982 (50.2%)
4975–4952 (11.3%)		5208–5162 (13.6%)
5121–5096 (2.2%)
5078–4932 (78.3%)
4923–4906 (1.3%)
UGAMS53911#0346Keratin
(Goat Horn)		002Collagen6070 ± 305030–4936 (68.3%)5201–5186 (2.6%)
5053–4896 (88.8%)
4868–4848 (4.1%)
Figure 12

Aerial photograph of IDIHA-0008385, photo facing southwest. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 13

Plan of IDIHA-F-0050098. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 14

The main chamber and head of IDIHA-F-0050098, post excavation. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 15

Vessel #1126. On the left in the black box are two in situ fragments of the vessel. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Table 7

Description of Neolithic vessel from IDIHA-F-0050098.

CAT. NO.INV. NO.TYPEDIAMETERFABRICCOLOURMUNSELLINCLUSIONSDECORATIONCOREMANUFACTURE
#52#1126Bowl/Vat30 cmCoarseGrey5YR (4/1)Medium density, grey (basalt) & white (calcareous) grits & vegetal matterPossible self-slip, two perforations towards the base.Dark GreyHandmade
Table 8

Quantification of faunal remains from IDIHA-F-0050098.

TAXANUMBER% OF NUMBERWEIGHT (g)% OF WEIGHT
Cattle34628.0%1353.954.7%
Bos sp.55544.9%734.229.7%
Goat30.2%160.6%
Indeterminate Caprine50.4%351.4%
Small Ruminant443.6%60.12.4%
Large Ungulate272.2%53.52.2%
Hare50.4%9.10.4%
Fox20.2%1.40.1%
Indeterminate25020.2%211.58.5%
Total1,237100%2,474.7100%
Table 9

Radiocarbon assays from IDIHA-F-0050098.

LAB IDSAMPLE IDCONTEXTMATERIALANALYSIS14C (BP)CALIBRATED DATE BC 68.2% (1σ)CALIBRATED DATE BC 95.4% (2σ)
UGAMS58754#1331007Cattle ToothBioapatite6010 ± 254939–4880 (47.7%)
4872–4847 (20.5%)		4991–4835 (93.9%)
4811–4803 (1.5%)
UGAMS56667#0699SurfaceAnimal BoneBioapatite6000 ± 254935–4916 (13.7%)
4911–4844 (54.5%)		4987–4966 (3.2%)
4955–4827 (86.3%)
4821–4797 (5.9%)
UGAMS58753#1327006Animal BoneBioapatite5890 ± 254786–4724 (68.3%)4836–4811 (7.0%)
4804–4706 (88.5%)
UGAMS58723SK012001Human BoneBioapatite5750 ± 304668–4666 (1.4%)
4658–4636 (13.6%)
4616–4544 (53.3%)		4691–4502 (95.4%)
Figure 16

Aerial view of IDIHA-F-0011356, photo orientated to the southwest. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 17

Orthostat in central chamber, pre-excavation. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 18

A selection of the arrowheads found in the main chamber of IDIHA-F-0011356. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 19

In situ faunal elements from IDIHA-F-0011356. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 20

Overhead photograph of all chambers in IDIHA-F-0011356, post excavation. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Table 10

Quantification of faunal remains from IDIHA-F-0011356.

TAXANUMBER% OF NUMBERWEIGHT (g)% OF WEIGHT
Cattle30260.6%4486.789.1%
Bos sp.81.6%45.80.9%
Goat30.6%541.1%
Sheep61.2%98.62.0%
Goat/Sheep71.4%280.6%
Indeterminate Caprine346.8%76.51.5%
Small Ruminant163.2%370.7%
Ruminant6312.7%73.91.5%
Large Ruminant142.8%74.81.5%
Hare61.2%2.5<0.1%
Fox10.2%3.90.1%
Rodent10.2%0.1<0.1%
Bird10.2%0.7<0.1%
Indeterminate367.2%50.91.0%
Total498100%5,033.4100%
Table 11

Radiocarbon assays from IDIHA-F-0011356.

LAB IDSAMPLE IDCONTEXTMATERIALANALYSIS14C (BP)CALIBRATED DATE BC 68.2% (1σ)CALIBRATED DATE BC 95.4% (2σ)
UGAMS65383#1524044Animal BoneBioapatite6120 ± 255203–5181 (16.4%)
5060–4996 (51.9%)		5208–5157 (23.2%)
5124–5092 (5.5%)
5082–4949 (66.7%)
UGAMS65377#1492033Charcoal
(Unidentified)		Charcoal6090 ± 305042–4950 (68.3%)5206–5173 (8.9%)
5072–4901 (85.6%)
4864–4853 (1.0%)
UGAMS65376#1498042Charcoal
(Unidentified)		Charcoal6080 ± 305034–4944 (68.3%)5204–5180 (5.2%)
5060–4898 (88.1%)
4866–4851 (2.1%)
UGAMS65378#1393013Cattle HornKeratin6070 ± 305026–5019 (3.4%)
5011–4938 (64.8%)		5198–5191 (1.1%)
5046–4900 (92.1%)
4864–4852 (2.4%)
UGAMS65381#1468032Animal BoneBioapatite6060 ± 255002–4934 (64.2%)
4918–4910 (4.1%)		5042–4896 (90.2%)
4868–4848 (5.2%)
UGAMS65382#1490039Animal BoneBioapatite5930 ± 254840–4782 (56.5%)
4748–4730 (11.7%)		4888–4870 (4.4%)
4848–4722 (91.0%)
UGAMS65373IB1012028Human BoneCollagen5910 ± 304828–4820 (6.7%)
4798–4725 (61.6%)		4878–4874 (0.5%)
4846–4712 (95%)
UGAMS65372IB1008044Human BoneBioapatite5870 ± 254784–4742 (45.9%)
4734–4714 (22.4%)		4824–4821 (0.4%)
4798–4684 (95.1%)
UGAMS65379#1411020Animal BoneCollagen5030 ± 253940–3871 (47.0%)
3809–3776 (21.3%)		3946–3762 (90.5%)
3738–3713 (5.0%)
UGAMS65380#1416021Animal BoneCollagen5000 ± 253891–3884 (4.8%)
3798–3756 (36.1%)
3746–3711 (27.3%)		3938–3874 (21.2%)
3806–3704 (70.4%)
3674–3658 (3.9%)
Figure 21

Aerial photograph of IDIHA-0041426, photo orientated to the east. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 22

In situ faunal remains from IDIHA-F-0051480. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 23

Post excavation aerial photograph of IDIHA-F-0051480, photo photo orientated to the east. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Table 12

Quantification of faunal remains from IDIHA-F-0051480.

TAXANUMBER% OF NUMBERWEIGHT (g)% OF WEIGHT
Cattle20427.4%588.751.8%
Bos sp.23131.0%285.925.2%
Goat81.1%100.88.9%
Sheep20.3%60.5%
Indeterminate Caprine709.4%45.14.0%
Small Ruminant719.5%201.8%
Ruminant13618.3%41.13.6%
Large Ruminant202.7%47.54.2%
Rodent20.3%0.5<0.0%
Total744100%1,135.6100%
Table 13

Radiocarbon assays from IDIHA-F-0051480.

LAB IDSAMPLE IDCONTEXTMATERIALANALYSIS14C (BP)CALIBRATED DATE BC 68.2% (1σ)CALIBRATED DATE BC 95.4% (2σ)
UGAMS65399#1356002Animal BoneBioapatite6210 ± 255214–5206 (6.1%)
5171–5112 (41.6%)
5104–5072 (20.6%)		5295–5261 (8.2%)
5220–5200 (9.7%)
5186–5053 (77.6%)
UGAMS65400#1361007Animal BoneBioapatite6180 ± 305177–5140 (23.9%)
5134–5066 (44.4%)		5216–5030 (95.2%)
5018–5016 (0.3%)
Figure 24

Plan of the various features at site IDIHA-0008222. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Figure 25

Faunal remains from IDIHA-F-0011081. 25A: Cattle horn. 25B: Goat horn. 25C: Cattle horn. 25D: Cattle horn. 25E: Bos sp. horn sheath. 25F: Gazelle horn. © AAKSA/PAKEP and The Royal Commission for AlUla.

Table 14

Quantification of faunal remains from IDIHA-F-0011081.

TAXANUMBER% OF NUMBERWEIGHT (g)% OF WEIGHT
Cattle8934.2%2223.267.1%
Bos sp.12849.2%810.524.5%
Goat51.9%153.34.6%
Indeterminate Caprine197.3%15.90.5%
Gazelle10.4%30.1%
Small Ruminant51.9%60.2%
Indeterminate135%1003.0%
Total260100%3,311.9100%
Table 15

Radiocarbon assays from IDIHA-F-0011081.

LAB IDSAMPLE IDCONTEXTMATERIALANALYSIS14C (BP)CALIBRATED DATE BC 68.2% (1σ)CALIBRATED DATE BC 95.4% (2σ)
SANU-66604#0086014Charcoal (Unidentified)Charcoal6210 ± 275214–5206 (6.1%)
5172–5112 (41.2%)
5106–5072 (21.0%)		5296–5269 (9.0%)
5220–5199 (9.8%)
5186–5052 (76.7%)
SANU-64603#0102007Animal ToothKeratin6192 ± 595216–5196 (7.1%)
5191–5046 (61.2%)		5306–5238 (12.3%)
5231–4994 (83.2%)
SANU-65412#0034011Cattle HornKeratin6187 ± 415211–5204 (3.7%)
5180–5061 (64.5%)		5292–5266 (4.0%)
5219–5008 (91.4%)
SANU-66605#0037011Cattle HornKeratin6116 ± 275203–5181 (15.1%)
5060–4994 (53.1%)		5208–5158 (21.2%)
5124–5092 (5.0%)
5082–4944 (69.3%)
SAUN-66606#0039011Cattle HornKeratin6115 ± 275203–5181 (14.9%)
5060–4993 (53.4%)		5208–5158 (20.7%)
5124–5092 (4.7%)
5081–4944 (70.1%)
SANU-66609#0043011Cattle HornKeratin6111 ± 275203–5182 (18.5%)
5058–4991 (54.7%)		5208–5161 (18.5%)
5122–5094 (3.5%)
5080–4941 (73.5%)
SANU-66607#0042011Goat HornKeratin6111 ± 285203–5181 (13.7%)
5060–4990 (54.5%)		5208–5160 (18.7%)
5122–5094 (3.9%
5080–4940 (72.9%)
UGAMS-46488#0072012Cattle HornBioapatite6050 ± 204996–4932 (59.6%)
4920–4908 (8.7%)		5026–4894 (88.2%)
4870–4848 (7.3%)
SANU-65411#0100011Cattle HornKeratin5911 ± 294829–4818 (8.6%)
4798–4770 (24.9%)
4764–4725 (34.8%)		4846–4712 (95.4%)
UGAMS-46484SK003003Human BoneCollagen5720 ± 204602–4534 (56.9%)
4520–4504 (11.3%)		4672–4637 (5.2%)
4616–4491 (88.5%)
4472–4461 (1.7%)
Table 16

Quantification of faunal remains from all seven excavated mustatils in AlUla County.

TAXANUMBER% OF NUMBERWEIGHT (g)% OF WEIGHT
Cattle132425.8%9574.761.6%
Bos sp.167632.6%2787.117.9%
Goat781.5%689.94.4%
Sheep80.2%104.60.7%
Goat/sheep1182.3%608.53.9%
Indeterminate Caprine60111.7%473.23.0%
Gazelle30.1%42.20.3%
Small Ruminant1402.7%133.60.9%
Ruminant3246.3%216.51.4%
Large Ruminant370.7%144.60.9%
Large Ungulate330.6%118.60.8%
Hare140.3%15.60.1%
Fox40.1%9.10.1%
Small Carnivore30.1%1.5<0.1%
Rodent110.2%3.6<0.1%
Reptile1<0.1%0.9<0.1%
Bird30.1%0.9<0.1%
Indeterminate76114.8%627.94.0%
Total5,139100%15,553100%
Figure 26

Curvilinear architecture contemporary with the mustatil tradition in northern Arabia. 26A: Single standing stone circle. 26B: Multi standing stone circle. 26C: Agglomerated curvilinear enclosures.

Figure 27

Radiocarbon dated remains from the mustatils of AlUla: charcoal (green); human (blue); and animal (black).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/oq.139 | Journal eISSN: 2055-298X
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Language: English
Page range: 6 - 6
Submitted on: May 30, 2024
Accepted on: Jul 30, 2024
Published on: Oct 1, 2024
Published by: Ubiquity Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Keywords:
Mustatil,
Arabia,
Neolithic,
Cult,
Monumentality,
Pastoralism

© 2024 Melissa Kennedy, Laura Strolin, Lauren Swift, Fahad Bagdadi, Jane McMahon, Hugh Thomas, published by Ubiquity Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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