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Archaeological and Environmental Survey of the Dhamar Region
Tony Wilkinson and McGuire Gibson
Oriental Institute, University of Chicago
The Oriental Institute Archaeological and Environmental
Survey of the Dhamar Region, begun in 1978-79 and revived on
a more intensive basis in 1994, has resulted in findings that
have major implications for the history of settlement and
political relations not only of the region, but of Yemen
generally. Thus far, Paleolithic and Neolithic sites are very
slightly represented. Usually the Neolithic is implied only
in lithic finds in upper parts of the humic black stratum
(6000-3000 BC) that appears in stratigraphic sections. The
absence of Neolithic settlements may prove to be
characteristic of the region, but it may also be the result of
erosion or covering of sites by sediments or of destruction by
later occupation. Bronze Age sites, which are far more
numerous, are more easily found in the less-watered, more
marginal areas to the east rather than in the well-watered
western portion of the survey region. This distribution is to
be accounted for by the still-current practice of recycling
stone from earlier buildings in the construction of later
buildings and terrace walls, especially in the well-watered
and more heavily-populated areas.
Bronze Age sites (3000-1000 BC) make up about a quarter
of the recorded settlements and many are associated with
visible relict terraces. A few of these sites are relatively
large, with substantial stone-built rectilinear buildings, and
are datable by radiocarbon to 2500-1700 BC. Some Bronze Age
sites with fortifications may be the earliest walled towns in
the entire Arabian peninsula. The pottery from the Bronze Age
occupation is similar to that found by the Italians in
neighboring Khawlan.
Iron Age or Sabean settlements (early 1st Millennium
BC) make up another quarter of recorded sites and are located
throughout the region, on both hilltops and valley floors.
Some sites reach 10-15 hectares. Large rectilinear buildings
inside compound walls characterize these sites, and some have
paved roadways or steps leading up to them.
Himyarite sites are, not surprisingly, the most
impressive ruins in the region, and are often accompanied by
large and elaborate dams. Hakir's agricultural area was
extended through the building of three large dams, while
Masna'at Maryam was served by two. In contrast the capital,
Zafar, was the focus of an elaborate system of more than 80
dams, almost all of modest size. The larger, more ambitious
dams were all breached in antiquity, while the low dams of
Zafar survive to the present day, although reused as terrace
walls.
Islamic sites do not equal the number of either the
Bronze or the Iron Ages, but many are found beneath modern
villages, and others may lie unrecognized under present-day
settlements. There are, however, several impressive Islamic
sites, of which the most striking is probably the former
Yemeni capital of Dhawran, now abandoned, where a major
mosque, ablution area, and shrine remain standing, be it in
very bad condition. The intensive recording of these
monuments has been undertaken by researchers from the American
Institute for Yemeni Studies (AIYS) and the French Institute
for Yemeni Studies (CFEY), under the general auspices of the
Dhamar Survey project.
Project funding: Oriental Institute, University of Chicago directly and through contributions.
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Oriental Institute Archaeological and Environmental Investigations of
Yemeni Agriculture:
http://www-oi.uchicago.edu/OI/PROJ/YEM/Yemen.html
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