Stone Ages of Arabia

The course would aim to educate participants on the prehistoric cultures, technologies, and environments of the Arabian Peninsula during the Stone Age (Paleolithic, Neolithic). It would focus on developing skills in archaeological methods, understanding ancient human adaptations to the region’s unique environments, and exploring the material culture, such as stone tools, rock art, and early settlements. The course might also seek to connect these findings to broader narratives of human migration, survival strategies, and cultural development in the Middle East, fostering an appreciation for the region’s deep historical roots.

By the end of this course, the trainee will be able to:

1. Identify Regional Stone Tool Types: Recognize stone tools specific to Arabian prehistory (e.g., Acheulean handaxes, Levallois flakes, Neolithic arrowheads) based on morphology and regional variations.
2. Apply Dating Techniques: Use relative dating (e.g., stratigraphy) and absolute dating methods (e.g., optically stimulated luminescence, radiocarbon dating) to determine the age of stone tools from Arabian archaeological sites.
3. Classify Tools Using Regional Typologies: Categorize stone tools according to typological frameworks relevant to the Arabian Peninsula, such as those used for Paleolithic, Mesolithic, or Neolithic assemblages.
4. Analyze Manufacturing Techniques: Understand and differentiate lithic technologies like bifacial flaking, pressure flaking, or grinding, specific to Arabian contexts.
5. Interpret Tool Function and Use: Assess tool functions (e.g., hunting, butchering, plant processing) through use-wear analysis, residue studies, or experimental replication, considering Arabian environmental contexts.
6. Contextualize Archaeological Sites: Relate stone tools to key Arabian sites (e.g., Jubbah or Shuwaymis) and interpret their cultural, environmental, and technological significance in the Stone Age.
7. Document Artifacts: Accurately measure, sketch, photograph, and catalog stone tools, adhering to standards for Arabian archaeological documentation.
8. Evaluate Environmental Adaptations: Understand how Stone Age populations in Arabia adapted tool-making to local resources (e.g., chert, flint) and environmental changes like desertification.
9. Conduct Comparative Analysis: Compare Arabian stone tool assemblages with those from neighboring regions (e.g., Levant, East Africa) to understand cultural connections or migrations.
10. Present Research Findings: Formulate research questions, analyze data, and communicate findings about Arabian Stone Age tools in written or oral formats, suitable for academic or public audiences.