Unkelbach, Julia: Multi-proxy dataset (pollen, NPPs, micro- and macro-charcoal) of Site KS54 in Al-Khashbah, north-central Oman [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.997173 (dataset in review)
Abstract:
Multi-proxy data of five sites (KS3, KS5, KS52, KS54, KS55) were collected in order to investigate environmental changes and subsistence strategies during the Bronze Age (3200–1300 BC) in Al-Khashbah, north-central Oman. Five sediment profiles from anthropogenic contexts were analyzed using pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs), micro- and macro-charcoal to reconstruct vegetation dynamics, assess climate variability, and evaluate human land-use practices. The pollen record suggests increased arboreal presence between 2500 and 1600 cal yr BC, possibly reflecting greater moisture availability, while elevated charcoal inputs suggest intensified anthropogenic activity. Declines in woody taxa and charcoal after 1900 cal yr BC are consistent with increasing aridity. The presence of Phoenix dactylifera, cereals, Pistacia, and Solanum is consistent with the implementation of small-scale cultivation from the early 3rd millennium BC. Sporadic dung fungi suggest limited palynological evidence for livestock. Overall, the evidence indicates Bronze Age communities may have combined small-scale cultivation, pastoralism, and controlled fire use to adapt to increasingly arid conditions.
Keyword(s):
Related to:
Beuzen-Waller, Tara; Pietsch, Dana; Proctor, Lucas; Schmidt, Conrad; Schmitt, Katharina E; Unkelbach, Julia (in press): Human–Environment Relationships in Central Oman during the Holocene. Archaeopress Publishing Ltd
Unkelbach, Julia (submitted): Bronze Age subsistence strategies in north-central Oman: New palynological data from Al-Khashbah. Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy.
Funding:
Coverage:
Latitude: 22.662622 * Longitude: 58.030754
Date/Time Start: 2022-03-08T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2022-03-08T00:00:00
Minimum Elevation: 386.0 m * Maximum Elevation: 386.0 m
Event(s):
Parameter(s):
| # | Name | Short Name | Unit | Principal Investigator | Method/Device | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALTITUDE | Altitude | m | Unkelbach, Julia | Geocode | |
| 2 | DEPTH, sediment/rock | Depth sed | m | Unkelbach, Julia | Geocode | |
| 3 | AGE | Age | ka BP | Unkelbach, Julia | Age, 14C AMS | Geocode – Poznan Radiocarbon Laboratory, Poland |
| 4 | Lycopodium tablets | Lyc.tabN | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Number of Lycopodium tablets | |
| 5 | Spores | Spo | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Number of Spores per Lycopodium tablet | |
| 6 | Lycopodium spores counted | Lyc.counted | # | Unkelbach, Julia | ||
| 7 | Sample volume | Samp vol | cm3 | Unkelbach, Julia | Mechanical sampling device | |
| 8 | Euphorbia | Eup | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Light microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification] | Euphorbiaceae |
| 9 | Haloxylon-type | Haloxylon-T | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Light microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification] | Amaranthaceae |
| 10 | Poaceae | Poac | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Light microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification] | small PG (<40 µm) |
| 11 | Cyperaceae | Cypae | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Light microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification] | |
| 12 | Chenopodium-type | Che-T | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Light microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification] | Amaranthaceae |
| 13 | Brassicaceae undifferentiated | Bra.ud | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Light microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification] | |
| 14 | Fabaceae undifferentiated | Fab.ud | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Light microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification] | |
| 15 | Pollen indeterminata | Pollen indet | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Light microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification] | |
| 16 | Glomus sp. | Glomus sp. | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Light microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification] | |
| 17 | Uredospore | Uredospore | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Light microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification] | |
| 18 | Microcharcoal | myChar | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Light microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification] | <125 µm |
| 19 | Microcharcoal | myChar | #/cm3 | Unkelbach, Julia | Calculated | |
| 20 | Sample volume | Samp vol | cm3 | Unkelbach, Julia | Mechanical sampling device | Sample quantity macro-charcoal |
| 21 | Macrocharcoal | MacChar | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Stereomicroscope, ZEISS [x12 magnification] | (>125 µm) sum |
| 22 | Macrocharcoal, wood-type | MacChar w-t | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Stereomicroscope, ZEISS [x12 magnification] | |
| 23 | Macrocharcoal, leaf-type | MacChar l-t | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Stereomicroscope, ZEISS [x12 magnification] | |
| 24 | Macrocharcoal, grass-type | MacChar g-t | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Stereomicroscope, ZEISS [x12 magnification] | |
| 25 | Macrocharcoal | MacChar | # | Unkelbach, Julia | Stereomicroscope, ZEISS [x12 magnification] | other types |
| 26 | Macrocharcoal | MacChar | #/cm3 | Unkelbach, Julia |
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0) (License comes into effect after moratorium ends)
Status:
Curation Level: Enhanced curation (CurationLevelC)
Size:
483 data points