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Unkelbach, Julia: Multi-proxy dataset (pollen, NPPs, micro- and macro-charcoal) of Site KS55 in Al-Khashbah, north-central Oman [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.997179 (dataset in review)

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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):
Arid environment; Climate change; human activity; multi-proxy dataset; Palynology; subsistence strategies
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:
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), grant/award no. 01UL2001C: UmWeltWandel
Coverage:
Latitude: 22.662381 * Longitude: 58.030656
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):
KS55_Oman_20220308 * Latitude: 22.662381 * Longitude: 58.030656 * Date/Time: 2022-03-08T00:00:00 * Elevation: 386.0 m * Location: Al-Khashbah, north-central Oman * Method/Device: Plastic bag (PB)
Parameter(s):
#NameShort NameUnitPrincipal InvestigatorMethod/DeviceComment
1ALTITUDEAltitudemUnkelbach, JuliaGeocode
2DEPTH, sediment/rockDepth sedmUnkelbach, JuliaGeocode
3AGEAgeka BPUnkelbach, JuliaAge, 14C AMSGeocode – Poznan Radiocarbon Laboratory, Poland
4Lycopodium tabletsLyc.tabN#Unkelbach, JuliaNumber of Lycopodium tablets
5SporesSpo#Unkelbach, JuliaNumber of Spores per Lycopodium tablet
6Lycopodium spores countedLyc.counted#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
7Sample volumeSamp volcm3Unkelbach, JuliaMechanical sampling device
8Vachellia tortilisV. tortilis#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Fabaceae
9PistaciaPst#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Anacardiaceae
10ZiziphusZiziphus#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Rhamnaceae
11Euphorbia laricaE. larica#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Euphorbiaceae
12Haloxylon-typeHaloxylon-T#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Amaranthaceae
13DodonaeaDodonaea#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Sapindaceae
14SolanumSol#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Solanaceae
15ZygophyllumZyg#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Zygophyllaceae
16ArtemisiaArt#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Asteraceae
17HeliotropiumHelio#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Boraginaceae
18PoaceaePoac#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]small PG (<40 µm)
19PoaceaePoac#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]large PG (>40 µm)
20CyperaceaeCypae#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
21Chenopodium-typeChe-T#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Amaranthaceae
22Cichorioideae-typeCichorioideae T#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Asteraceae
23Pulicaria-typePulicaria-T#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Asteraceae
24BrassicaceaeBraae#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
25CaryophyllaceaeCphae#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
26ConvolvulaceaeConae#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
27RumexRum#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Polygonaceae
28RubiaceaeRubae#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
29ScrophulariaceaeScoae#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
30Fabaceae undifferentiatedFab.ud#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
31Pollen indeterminataPollen indet#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
32Glomus sp.Glomus sp.#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
33Delitschia sp.Delitschia sp.#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]large
34Alternaria sp.Alternaria sp.#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]NN-129
35UredosporeUredospore#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
36Fruiting bodyFruiting body#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
37Fungal remains undifferentiatedFung.rem undiff#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
38Arcella sp.Arc.sp#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]HdV-352
39AcariAcari#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]Part
40Algae indeterminataAlgae indet#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]
41MicrocharcoalmyChar#Unkelbach, JuliaLight microscope, ZEISS Primostar 3 [x400 magnification]<125 µm
42MicrocharcoalmyChar#/cm3Unkelbach, JuliaCalculated
43Sample volumeSamp volcm3Unkelbach, JuliaMechanical sampling deviceSample quantity macro-charcoal
44MacrocharcoalMacChar#Unkelbach, JuliaStereomicroscope, ZEISS [x12 magnification](>125 µm) sum
45Macrocharcoal, wood-typeMacChar w-t#Unkelbach, JuliaStereomicroscope, ZEISS [x12 magnification]
46Macrocharcoal, leaf-typeMacChar l-t#Unkelbach, JuliaStereomicroscope, ZEISS [x12 magnification]
47Macrocharcoal, grass-typeMacChar g-t#Unkelbach, JuliaStereomicroscope, ZEISS [x12 magnification]
48MacrocharcoalMacChar#Unkelbach, JuliaStereomicroscope, ZEISS [x12 magnification]other types
49MacrocharcoalMacChar#/cm3Unkelbach, 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:
1840 data points

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