The Al-Hajar Mts as a prehistoric refugium? On the habitability
of karst mountain places in Oman during arid climate periods

J 2023

The Al-Hajar Mts as a prehistoric refugium? On the habitability of karst mountain places in Oman during arid climate periods

MATEICIUCOVÁ, Inna, Maximilian WILDING, Jiří OTAVA and Jiří ŠINDELÁŘ

Basic information

Original name

The Al-Hajar Mts as a prehistoric refugium? On the habitability of karst mountain places in Oman during arid climate periods

Authors

MATEICIUCOVÁ, Inna (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Maximilian WILDING (40 Austria, belonging to the institution), Jiří OTAVA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Jiří ŠINDELÁŘ (203 Czech Republic)

Edition

Journal of Arid Environments, Kidlington, London (i.a.), Elsevier, Academic Press, 2023, 0140-1963

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

60102 Archaeology

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 2.700 in 2022

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/23:00130548

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2023.104951

UT WoS

001004945000001

Keywords in English

Mountain archaeology; Karst; Prehistoric refugium; South-eastern Arabia; Al-Hajar mountains; Aridization

Abstract

V originále

Regarding the question of the survival of prehistoric hominin groups in the Arabian Peninsula during arid phases, the geology of karst appears to be an important factor. This is made clear by the karst springs, wadi pools and sediment-filled karst depressions (dolines and poljes) found at higher elevation within the central Al-Hajar Mts. Setting out at the zero point of prehistoric mountain archaeology in Oman, relevant information from hydrogeology, botany, zoology and oases horticulture is compiled and reviewed. The immediate concern is to provide proof for the assumption that karst lithology in the Kawr-Akhdar Area has been able to compensate for some of the negatives of unreliable rainfall in the mountains of northern Oman. Combining the evidence of the survival of endemic lifeforms with the feasibility of mountain oases, we conclude that long before the harnessing of karst-hydrological features by an oasis economy (in Iron Age 2), surface water has been available in the central and eastern Al-Hajar Mts at elevations higher than 1000 m a.s.l. in an amount to meet the needs of mobile foraging-pastoral groups. From our own study of sediment-filled karst-depressions with lithic scatters at ca. 1000 m a.s.l. on the inner side of the Jebel Kawr, we deduce a hydrologically advantageous effect of aeolian sediment on the fractured karst, here on the southern slope of the mountain chain (“Kawr Exotic”). In this view, quantities of moisture-storing silt progressively began sealing the karst depressions, allowing them to retain surface water and vegetation high up in steep and rugged mountain terrain. Karst formations evidently provided the barren central and eastern Al-Hajar Mts with “insular” water and sediment locations (huyul, singular hayl), which helped prehistoric groups to cope with phases of aridization. Based on this, we propose the Al-Hajar Mts as a viable prehistoric refugium.

Links

0063/2021, interní kód MU

Name: A prehistoric mountain site in Northern Oman

Investor: Ostatní - foreign

Citovat

MATEICIUCOVÁ, Inna, Maximilian WILDING, Jiří OTAVA and Jiří ŠINDELÁŘ. The Al-Hajar Mts as a prehistoric refugium? On the habitability of karst mountain places in Oman during arid climate periods. Journal of Arid Environments. Kidlington, London (i.a.): Elsevier, Academic Press, 2023, vol. 2023, No 212, p. 1-27, 28 pp. ISSN 0140-1963. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2023.104951.

@article{2273082,
   author = {Mateiciucová, Inna and Wilding, Maximilian and Otava, Jiří and Šindelář, Jiří},
   article_location = {Kidlington, London (i.a.)},
   article_number = {212},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2023.104951},
   keywords = {Mountain archaeology; Karst; Prehistoric refugium; South-eastern Arabia; Al-Hajar mountains; Aridization},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0140-1963},
   journal = {Journal of Arid Environments},
   title = {The Al-Hajar Mts as a prehistoric refugium? On the habitability of karst mountain places in Oman during arid climate periods},
   url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2023.104951},
   volume = {2023},
   year = {2023}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2273082
AU  - Mateiciucová, Inna - Wilding, Maximilian - Otava, Jiří - Šindelář, Jiří
PY  - 2023
TI  - The Al-Hajar Mts as a prehistoric refugium? On the habitability of karst mountain places in Oman during arid climate periods
JF  - Journal of Arid Environments
VL  - 2023
IS  - 212
SP  - 1-27
EP  - 1-27
PB  - Elsevier, Academic Press
SN  - 01401963
KW  - Mountain archaeology
KW  - Karst
KW  - Prehistoric refugium
KW  - South-eastern Arabia
KW  - Al-Hajar mountains
KW  - Aridization
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2023.104951
N2  - Regarding the question of the survival of prehistoric hominin groups in the Arabian Peninsula during arid phases, the geology of karst appears to be an important factor. This is made clear by the karst springs, wadi pools and sediment-filled karst depressions (dolines and poljes) found at higher elevation within the central Al-Hajar Mts. Setting out at the zero point of prehistoric mountain archaeology in Oman, relevant information from hydrogeology, botany, zoology and oases horticulture is compiled and reviewed. The immediate concern is to provide proof for the assumption that karst lithology in the Kawr-Akhdar Area has been able to compensate for some of the negatives of unreliable rainfall in the mountains of northern Oman. Combining the evidence of the survival of endemic lifeforms with the feasibility of mountain oases, we conclude that long before the harnessing of karst-hydrological features by an oasis economy (in Iron Age 2), surface water has been available in the central and eastern Al-Hajar Mts at elevations higher than 1000 m a.s.l. in an amount to meet the needs of mobile foraging-pastoral groups. From our own study of sediment-filled karst-depressions with lithic scatters at ca. 1000 m a.s.l. on the inner side of the Jebel Kawr, we deduce a hydrologically advantageous effect of aeolian sediment on the fractured karst, here on the southern slope of the mountain chain (“Kawr Exotic”). In this view, quantities of moisture-storing silt progressively began sealing the karst depressions, allowing them to retain surface water and vegetation high up in steep and rugged mountain terrain. Karst formations evidently provided the barren central and eastern Al-Hajar Mts with “insular” water and sediment locations (huyul, singular hayl), which helped prehistoric groups to cope with phases of aridization. Based on this, we propose the Al-Hajar Mts as a viable prehistoric refugium.
ER  -

MATEICIUCOVÁ, Inna, Maximilian WILDING, Jiří OTAVA and Jiří ŠINDELÁŘ. The Al-Hajar Mts as a prehistoric refugium? On the habitability of karst mountain places in Oman during arid climate periods. \textit{Journal of Arid Environments}. Kidlington, London (i.a.): Elsevier, Academic Press, 2023, vol.~2023, No~212, p.~1-27, 28 pp. ISSN~0140-1963. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2023.104951.

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