Archaeological Survey and Excavation at Fuwairit

Origins of Doha Project ‐ Season 4 Archive Report: Archaeological Survey and Excavation at Fuwairit

Robert Carter and Daniel Eddisford

UCL Qatar

July 2016


2 Origins of Doha Project July 2016

Contents List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................... 3

1. Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 4

2. Site Description ............................................................................................................................... 5

3. Site Background .............................................................................................................................. 6

Historic background ........................................................................................................................ 6

Previous archaeological work ......................................................................................................... 7

4. Archaeological Survey at Fuwairit .................................................................................................. 8

5. Archaeological Excavation at Fuwairit ......................................................................................... 13

Trench 1 ........................................................................................................................................ 14

Trench 2 ........................................................................................................................................ 20

6. Conclusions and proposals for further work ................................................................................. 25

7. Bibliography .................................................................................................................................. 25

Appendix A: Context List ................................................................................................................... 26

Appendix B: Preliminary phased stratigraphic matrices ................................................................... 28

Appendix C: Finds list ........................................................................................................................ 30

Appendix D: Sample list .................................................................................................................... 33



List of Figures Figure 1: Location of the sites of Fuwairit and Zarqa ............................................................................. 5 Figure 2: Northern buildings and city wall (modern satellite image). .................................................... 8 Figure 3: Northern buildings and city wall (1958 aerial image). ............................................................. 9 Figure 4: Plan and DEM of the visible walls and deflated buildings at the northern area of the site. . 10 Figure 5: Plan of the visible walls and deflated buildings at the northern area of the site. ................. 11 Figure 6: Walls eroding into the sea at the northern area of the site. These walls were destroyed during the time we were surveying the site. ........................................................................................ 12 Figure 7: Walls eroding into the sea at the northern area of the site. These walls were destroyed during the time we were surveying the site. ........................................................................................ 12 Figure 8: Location of excavation areas ................................................................................................. 13 Figure 9: Fire instillation [46] pre‐excavation in a small sondage dug into the earliest deposits in Trench 1. ............................................................................................................................................... 14 Figure 10: Midden layers (43), (42), (41), (40) and (34) visible as the dark layers in the bottom of the section. External deposits (33), (32), (30), (28) and (27) are visible as lighter coloured layers in the top third of the section. ........................................................................................................................ 15 Figure 11: Plan of Phase 1c features. .................................................................................................... 16 Figure 12: A slot excavated through the robbed out wall [26] of Building 4 (looking southwest). ...... 16 Figure 13: Plan of Phase 1d features. ................................................................................................... 17 Figure 14: Robber cut [12] showing the extent of the walls of Building 2 and internal shell surfaces (18), (19) and (20). Hearth (23) is visible at the right hand side of the photo. The walls (8) and (9) in the corner of the trench are part of a later unexcavated structure, Building 1. .................................. 18 Figure 15: Internal surfaces in a small room in the northwest corner of Building 1. ........................... 18 Figure 16: Plan of Phase 1e features. ................................................................................................... 19 Figure 17: Rubble building collapse (2). ................................................................................................ 20 Figure 18: Cordelia Hall and Dave Mackie Planning in Trench 1. ......................................................... 20 Figure 19: Plan of Phase 2a features. .................................................................................................... 21 Figure 20: Cuts [521] and [525]............................................................................................................. 21 Figure 21: Tanur [534]. .......................................................................................................................... 22 Figure 22: Wall (516) forming the corner of a compound with alleyway deposits in the foreground. 22 Figure 23: Detail of wall (516). .............................................................................................................. 23 Figure 24: Plan of Phase 2b features. ................................................................................................... 23 Figure 25: Excavating sand overburden (501). ..................................................................................... 24 Cover Photo: Ben Sharp Planning in Trench 1



1. Summary The first season of fieldwork was undertaken at the sites of Fuwairit and Zarqa between 28th January and 17th of March 2016. The fieldwork consisted of:

The excavation of two trenches at Fuwairit archaeological site (HAC287).

Surface mapping of archaeological features at Fuwairit (HAC286) and Zarqa (HAC285).

Recording of standing traditional architecture in Fuwairit village (HAC283).

Surface pick‐ups of artefacts at Fuwairit.

Limited area survey of the hinterland of the Fuwairit and Zarqa sites. The archaeological investigations were conducted in collaboration with Qatar Museums and under the remit of the QNRF‐funded Origins of Doha and Qatar Project, and funded through the grants awarded to this project (NPRP grant no. 5‐421‐6‐010 from the Qatar National Research Fund, a member of Qatar Foundation). Fuwairit was an important coastal settlement in the centuries preceding Qatar’s unification, rising to regional prominence as the home of the al‐Thani family during the early 19th century. However, there are few early written references to sites along the northern coast of Qatar. The surface mapping of archaeological features and the initial excavations undertaken this season have begun to reveal details about life in Qatar in the 18th and 19th centuries. The archaeological excavations undertaken suggest there were at least three separate occupations of the site between the 18th and the early 20th century. The excavations also identified an older portion of the site which had not previously been recognised. This was apparently a separate small walled town, possibly earlier than the other occupations. This reports presents the initial results and stratigraphy of the archaeological excavation and survey

work at Fuwairit. The post‐excavation analysis of the artefacts and environmental samples from the

site is currently being undertaken. The historic building recording undertaken at Fuwairit and the

survey work at the site of Zarqa are presented in two separate reports.



2. Site Description The archaeological site of Fuwairit is located on the northeast coast of Qatar, centred on Qatar National Grid (QNG) reference 215295 475177. The site is bounded to the north by Jebel Fuwairit and to the east by dense mangrove. The site of Fuwairit is a little over a kilometre long, with the main area of ruined architecture measuring c.750m long by 160m wide. To the north a defensive wall extends c.500m along the coast to the foot of Jebel Fuwairit, enclosing a tidal area and beach frontage that presumably acted as the settlement’s harbourage. To the west of the ruined architecture an area of associated midden dumps extend c.175m to the edge of the sabkha. Two walled cemeteries are also located on the edge of the sabkha. Inland from Fuwairit c.1.5km the site of Zarqa is centred on QNG 213843 474412 (Figure 1). Adjacent to a small farm are the remains of a mosque, fort and a number of other ruined buildings These represent a fortified site that would have provided the water and possibly agricultural areas utilised by the former inhabitants of Fuwairit.

Figure 1: Location of the sites of Fuwairit and Zarqa

Zarqa Archaeological site

Fuwairit Archaeological site



3. Site Background

Historic background In the mid 18th century the al‐Khalifa family of Bahrain came to dominate much of the northwest coast of Qatar, in particularly the site of Zubarah. This political and economic dominance by the al‐Khalifa forced other tribes to relocate to different sites in the north of the peninsula. In the 1780s, following disagreements with the al‐Khalifa, the Maadhid tribe are said to have moved to Fuwairit under the leadership of Thani bin Mohammed, progenitor of the Al Thani (Rahman 2005, 8). Local sources refer to a battle at Fuwairit in 1243 AH (1827/1828 AD) between the emergent Al Thani clan backed by allies from Doha, against other inhabitants of Fuwairit who were said to have taken their profits from the pearl fishery (Al‐Attiyah 2013: 14). One of the first descriptions of the settlements of northern Qatar comes from Major Colebrook's report on the Persian Gulf littoral of 10th September 1820. Colebrook describes “Phoerol” [Fuwairit] as being “to the East of Ras [cape] Reckan, the inhabitants removed to Bahrein, has no Khoor the coast on this side the cape, is bolder and may be approached by vessels within gunshot" (Rahman 2005, 3). A British maritime survey of the Arabian Gulf was conducted between 1820 and 1825, and makes mention that at “Affeeraat [Fuwairit] a few cattle and water may be procured” (Brucks 1829, 561). In 1835 Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmad Al‐Khalifa of Bahrain ordered the sons of his co‐ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman to attack al Huwailah, and curb the power of Isa bin Tarif, leader of the powerful Al Bin Ali tribe in Qatar. Landing at the now deserted Zubarah with a fighting force of 1000 men the Bahraini sheikh moved first to Fuwairit, and then proceeded to blockade the town of Huwailah by land and sea. Attempts by bin Tarif to get support from Muscat failed, but the Omani ruler agreed to mediate a peace between the two parties (Rahman 2005, 41‐42). An agreement was reached, in which both sides kept the advantages gained in the conflict. At this time Fuwairit was occupied by the Al Thani However the peace was short lived, and friction between the tribes of Bahrain and Qatar culminated in battle of Umm Suwayya, just outside Fuwairit, in 1847. A coalition commanded by bin Tarif, now allied with Abdullah bin Ahmad Al‐Khalifa, consisting of around 600 men, met the Bahraini troops commanded by Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa Al‐Khalifa near Fuwairit. In a brief engagement bin Tarif and 80 of his men were killed. Regardless of the Bahraini victory, the battle represents a key moment in the modern history of Qatar. In the year following the battle, the Al Thani family left Fuwairit for al‐ Bida’, beginning the loosening of Bahraini control over Qatar and the process of unification of Qatar under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani. Following the Battle of Umm Suwayya the site may have been abandoned as there is talk of a re‐ settlement by the Al Bu Kuwara in 1879 (Tuson 1991 vol. 3: 223), though at present we have no way of establishing whether a population had stayed place during the intervening period. Fuwairit continued to be a significant settlement into the early 20th century, though by this stage we do not know of this referred to the original site of or the site of the historic village to the south, which retains standing traditional architecture to this day. The Persian Gulf Pilot in 1932 describes Fuwairit as “on the shore of a small inlet… a walled village in which are several towers”. Earlier editions had described it as “a little walled town”. Fieldwork is required to establish which site is referred to in these attestations. The economy of Fuwairit, like that of most of the coastal settlements of the region, relied heavily on the pearling trade, and the collapse of the pearling industry in the first half of the 20th century



would have had a devastating effect. It is not clear when exactly the town was abandoned, but an aerial photo from 1958 clearly shows the site of old Fuwairit (on the sandspit) to be in ruins.

Previous archaeological work The area of Fuwairit was visited by Beatrice de Cardi as part of the British Archaeological Expedition in Qatar, undertaken between November 1973 and January 1974. Although no excavation was undertaken at Fuwairit a summary of the site is included in the project’s gazetteer of finds. On Jebel Fuwairit “a small scatter of 18th century pottery was found in a slight depression about 50m to the south‐east of the summit of the jebel….no signs of any structures were noted nearby.” (de Cadi 1978:190). The archaeological site of Fuwairit is described by de Cardi as a “large low site covering about 13 hectare, stands on a spit of sabkha jutting into the sea at the southern end of Jebel Fuwairit. The mound which represents individual houses shows that the town was well planned with building lines running parallel in an area of 860m x 170m. As at Zubarah some rubbish middens lay outside the town by the ‘fort’ and yielded pottery, glass bracelets and porcelain of eighteenth century date” (de Cadi 1978:190). A detailed topographic survey of the site was undertaken by the Qatar Islamic Archaeology and Heritage project in 2011 and in 2012 the project also conducted limited excavations at the site as part of the construction of a fence around the site.



4. Archaeological Survey at Fuwairit At the northern end of the site a series of previously unknown ruined courtyard houses were identified, between the main fenced site and the jebel directly to the north. Located on either side of a tidal lagoon these structures were visible on the surface as alignments of limestone rubble, along the coastline walls were visible in section as they eroded into the sea (Figure 6 and 7). The western group of buildings are visible on modern satellite images of the site (Figure 2). The eastern group are harder to identify on the surface today as they are covered by beach sand and a modern structure has been built over them at their northern extent. However an aerial image taken in 1958 shows the outline of these houses extending along the beach (Figure 3). The modern structure at the north of the buildings is built above the archaeological deposits and appears to have had a limited impact on the remains. However during our survey the walls visible on the coast were deliberately destroyed, most likely in an attempt to prevent the area being designated an archaeological site and fenced.

Figure 2: Northern buildings and city wall (modern satellite image).



Figure 3: Northern buildings and city wall (1958 aerial image).



The archaeological remains visible on the surface at the northern area of the site were planned using a differential GPS and a total station, a topographic survey of the area was also undertaken (Figure 4). A small collection of surface artefacts was made from a midden area at the southwest corner of the main area of structures identified. The plan of this area of the site clearly shows a substantial area of buildings, enclosed on three sides by a defensive wall. To the east, along the beach, a second area of buildings is less well defined today. Trench 2 (illustrated on Figure 3 in red) was excavated in this area of the site to try and date these structures. Superficially the level of preservation suggests this northern area of the site pre‐dates the larger fenced southern area of the site. This observation is further supported by the fact that this area of the site appears to be covered in 1958 (Figure 3), unlike the archaeological remains to the south which are much better preserved at this time with most buildings still standing.

Figure 4: Plan and DEM of the visible walls and deflated buildings at the northern area of the site.



Figure 5: Plan of the visible walls and deflated buildings at the northern area of the site.



Figure 6: Walls eroding into the sea at the northern area of the site. These walls were destroyed during the time we were surveying the site.

Figure 7: Walls eroding into the sea at the northern area of the site. These walls were destroyed during the time we were surveying the site.



5. Archaeological Excavation at Fuwairit Two trenches were excavated at Fuwairit to assess the nature and depth of the archaeological deposits (Figure 8). Trench 1 was located at the northern end of the fenced area of the site and targeted two phases of architecture visible on aerial photos of the site in the late 1940s and 1950s. Trench 2 was located further to the north, close to the foot of Jebel Fuwairit, and targeted previously unknown structures identified from early aerial photographs of the site. Detailed analysis of the artefacts recovered from the excavation is ongoing, however a brief summary of the deposits in each trench is given below. All areas are described stratigraphically, starting with the earliest deposits. All deposits and fill numbers are represented with rounded ( ) brackets and all cuts with square [ ] brackets. A preliminary stratigraphic matrix for each trench is included as Appendix A

Figure 8: Location of excavation areas



Trench 1 Phase 1a The earliest feature in Trench 1 was a tanur cooking instillation that was cut into windblown yellow sand (47), at 1.50mOD. This feature was constructed in cut [46] and consisted of a clay lining (45) and a charcoal rich fill (44). This early phase of occupation is likely to be of a more ephemeral or seasonal nature as seen in the earliest deposits of the Joint QM‐UCL Qatar Old Doha excavations. However it is also possible that architectural remains associated with this earliest occupation exist beyond the small excavated area of these deposits.

Figure 9: Fire instillation [46] pre‐excavation in a small sondage dug into the earliest deposits in Trench 1.

Phase 1b This feature was sealed by a series of finds rich ashy midden dumps (43), (42), (41), (40) and (34). To the north similar midden dumps (35) and (48) are also associated with the dumping of domestic waste. All these deposits contained large amounts of ceramics as well as animal and fish bones. It is not clear where the structures associated with this midden dumping are located.



Figure 10: Midden layers (43), (42), (41), (40) and (34) visible as the dark layers in the bottom of the section. External deposits (33), (32), (30), (28) and (27) are visible as lighter coloured layers in the top third of the section.

Phase 1c The earliest phases of architecture on the site had been almost entirely robbed out; the stone was removed from the walls of the buildings after they were abandoned leaving a clear cut where the walls had once been. It is very likely that much of the stone removed from earlier buildings was used in the construction of later phases of buildings. Building 4 was built directly on top of the latest midden dumps (34) and (35), The extent and layout of the compound house is visible on the surface, however the area of external wall of the compound excavated in Trench 1 had been completely robbed out. The wall line was visible as a wide shallow linear cut [26], filled by brown silty clay (16) and a stone rich layer (25).



Figure 11: Plan of Phase 1c features.

Figure 12: A slot excavated through the robbed out wall [26] of Building 4 (looking southwest).



Two postholes within the courtyard of Building 4, [36] and [38], may be associated with a wooden barasti structures or could be related to the construction of Building 4. A series of compact highly laminated surfaces (31), (29), (22) and (24) represent courtyard surfaces within the building. Sandier deposits (33), (32), (30), (28) and (27) represent external accumulations of sand to the south of Building 4. Phase 1d Building 2 was constructed slightly later than Building 4 and was located directly to the south of it, creating a small alleyway between the two buildings. Again the walls of Building 2 had been completely robbed out, leaving only a clearly defined robber cut [12] to show their original extent. Three rooms of Building 2 were visible, all containing laminated shell surfaces (18), (19) and (20). The most easterly room extended below unexcavated walls (8) and (9). A stone lined heath (23) was set into shell surface (18) in the southwest corner of the trench. None of these features associated with Building 2 were excavated as we hope to return to excavate a larger trench here in the following seasons.

Figure 13: Plan of Phase 1d features.



Figure 14: Robber cut [12] showing the extent of the walls of Building 2 and internal shell surfaces (18), (19) and (20). Hearth (23) is visible at the right hand side of the photo. The walls (8) and (9) in the corner of the trench are part of a later unexcavated structure, Building 1.

Phase 1e The latest phase of occupation identified in Trench 1 consists of Building 1, a compound house again clearly visible on the surface. The external wall of the compound (8) and an internal division (9) were both built of large un‐worked beach stone and limestone packed with mud. Part of a room located in the northwest corner of Building 1 was excavated consisted of a series of shell surfaces (10), (7) and (6). Directly to the north of the building layers (3), (4), (5) and 17 may all be external surfaces associated with Building 1.

Figure 15: Internal surfaces in a small room in the northwest corner of Building 1.



Figure 16: Plan of Phase 1e features.



Phase 1f The latest deposits in Trench 1 were rubble (2) and associated with the collapse of Building 1 and a layer of mixed topsoil (1).

Figure 17: Rubble building collapse (2).

Trench 2 Trench 2 measured 5m x 5m and was located to the north of the main Fuwairit site in an area occupied by several rows of compound houses visible on the surface as deflated alignments of limestone rubble. This area of occupation was previously unknown, and our initial hypothesis was that it predates the more obvious ruined structures to the south as it is less well preserved and is clearly ruined in the earliest aerial photos of the site, while the southern half of the site is still standing at this time. It is hoped the artefacts and archaeological sequence from Trench 2 will help explain the date and nature of occupation in the northern half of the site.

Figure 18: Cordelia Hall and Dave Mackie Planning in Trench 1.



Phase 2a The earliest deposit in Trench 2 was soft yellow wind‐blown sand (535). This was cut by two poorly defined features, [537] and [539] which may represent postholes. These were sealed by a layer of disturbed dirty sand (515) / (513), that contained charcoal as well as occasional animal bones and pottery fragments.

Figure 19: Plan of Phase 2a features.

Figure 20: Cuts [521] and [525].



Phase 2b Cutting into this layer were a number of features. The cut for a tanur fire instillation [534] contained clay lining (533) and an ash and charcoal rich fill (526). A sub‐circular fire pit [525] contained a charcoal rich primary fill, (523), and a cleaner sand secondary fill (522). Two postholes [528] and [530] could form part of an wooden shelter or windbreak. Two other features [519] and [521] are probably animal burrows.

Figure 21: Tanur [534].

The base a packed mud (pise) wall (516) was also constructed on sand layer (515) / (513), making its relationship to the cut features described above hard to ascertain. Wall (516) was heavily eroded but appears to have been constructed with a foundation course edged with large beach stones and a core and upper courses constructed of packed mud, gravel and small pieces of limestone.

Figure 22: Wall (516) forming the corner of a compound with alleyway deposits in the foreground.



The wall forms the southwest corner of a relatively large house compound, with rooms visible running down the western side of the courtyard. The internal deposits associated with the most southerly room were therefore excavated in Trench 2. To the south and west of the wall, in the southern half of Trench 2, external alleyway deposits were excavated.

Figure 23: Detail of wall (516).

The internal deposits consisted of a levelling/make‐up layer (510) / (509) overlaid by a shell rich occupation surface of (505). External alleyway deposits consist of two ashy, trample surfaces (511) and (512).

Figure 24: Plan of Phase 2b features.



Phase 2c A small, sub circular cut [508] probably a void created as the building collapsed, or an animal burrow dug after abandonment. A series of mixed deposits both inside, (503) and (514), and outside the building (502), (504) and (506), are associated with the post‐abandonment collapse and erosion of the structure. Windblown sand overburden (501) covered the entire trench.

Figure 25: Excavating sand overburden (501).



6. Conclusions and proposals for further work This short season of excavation at Fuwairit identified a series of phases of occupation on the site. In Trench 1 several phases of building sealed earlier midden dumps and possibly more ephemeral occupation. Trench 2 identified a single phase of buildings, again possibly sealing more ephemeral occupation represented by two possible postholes. The analysis of the finds and environmental samples from theses trenches that is currently being undertaken will assist in dating the phases of occupation as well as provide a clearer picture of everyday life at Fuwairit. In future seasons our excavation will continue to investigate a range of research questions including:

Developing a better understanding of the extent and nature of the structures identified in Trench 1 (Phases 1c ‐ 1e)

Exposing a greater area of the earliest phases of occupation in Trench 1 (Phases 1a‐ 1b)

Excavating areas of the midden dumps on the western side of the site in order to date these deposits and expose the underlying structures in this area of the site. The fort identified by de Cardi in this area of the site can be seen on the early aerial images of Fuwairit

Continuing excavation in the northern area of the site if it is necessary to confirm the date of this occupation

7. Bibliography Al‐Attiyah, H. 2013. Reviving the Local Dialect in Qatar: an Issue of Linguistic Concern or Identity Politics? Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. http://en.calameo.com/read/0012314350df74005c238 Brucks, G.B. (1829) Memoir descriptive of the Navigation of the Gulf of Persia in R.H. Thomas (ed) Selections from the records of the Bombay Government No XXIV (1985: New York: Oleander press) de Cardi, B. (1978) Gazetteer of Sites and Finds. In B. de Cardi (ed) Qatar Archaeological Report: Excavations 1973. University Oxford Press: Oxford. 180‐201 Eddisford, D. (2011) Archaeological Survey at Fuwairit and Zarqa. Report produced for the Qatar Islamic Archaeology and Heritage Project, University of Copenhagen. Rahman, H. (2005) The Emergence of Qatar: The Turbulent Years 1627‐1916. London: Thames & Hudson. Tuson, P., 1991. Records of Qatar, Primary Documents 1820‐1960. Volume 3: 1879‐1896, Slough: Archive Editions.



Appendix A: Context List Context number

Description Context type Trench Preliminary Phase

Plan No.

1 Loose sand / overburden deposit 1 1f —

2 Rubble collapse deposit 1 1f 2

3 Compacted surface layer deposit 1 1e 3

4 Plaster from rubble collapse or surface (?) deposit 1 1e 4

5 occupation / accumulation deposit (slumping into earlier feature)

deposit 1

5

6 Accumulation deposit within room deposit 1 1e 6

7 Surfaces in room deposit 1 1e 7

8 External courtyard wall wall 1 1e 8

9 internal wall associated with (8) wall 1 1e 9

10 surfaces in room deposit 1 1e 10

11 fill of [12] deposit 1 1d —

12 robber cut cut 1 1d 12

13 accumulation layer? Red brown layer below building (8) and (9)

deposit 1 1d 13

14 collapsed wall / rubble trample / construction deposit 1 1d 14

15 Surface deposit 1 1d 15

16 stones ‐ fill of [26] fill 1 1d 16

17 ashy spread deposit 1 1d 17

18 shell surface ‐ sw corner of trench deposit 1 1d 18

19 shell surface deposit 1 1d 18

20 shell surface deposit 1 1d 18

21 wall of Building 2 wall 1 1d 18

22 Shell and gravel spread / surface deposit 1 1c 18

23 hearth in sw corner of trench structure (hearth)

1 1d 18

24 surface on top of (22). N. End of trench deposit 1 1c 18

25 silty fill of [26] fill 1 1d 18

26 Linear cut filled by (5), (16) and (25) cut 1 1d 18

27 surface in centre of trench (alleyway) deposit 1 1c 18

28 gravel and sand surface below (27) (alleyway) deposit 1 1c 28

29 clayey occupation layer ‐ excavated in slot deposit 1 1c 29

30 surface / trample with white flecks deposit 1 1c 30

31 sequence of surfaces excavated in slot deposit 1 1c 31

32 dump layer south of cut [26] deposit 1 1c 32

33 two mortar surfaces and make up between them deposit 1 1c 33

34 layer in south end of slot. Same as (35)? Below building 4?

deposit 1 1b 34

35 layer in north end of slot. Same as (34)? Below building 4?

deposit 1 1b 35

36 cut of Post hole cut 1 1c 36

37 fill of posthole fill 1 1c —

38 cut of small posthole cut 1 1c 36

39 fill of small posthole fill 1 1c —

40 midden layer south side of slot deposit 1 1b 40

41 dirty sand, tipping down to south deposit 1 1b 41

42 midden layer deposit 1 1b 42

43 dirty sand deposit 1 1b 43

44 tanur fill fill 1 1a —



Context number

Description Context type Trench Preliminary Phase

Plan No.

45 tanur lining fill 1 1a —

46 tanur cut cut 1 1a 46

47 clean sand deposit 1 natural 47

48 midden at north end of slot ‐ not excavated deposit 1 1b 48

501 Loose sand and compacted shell overburden deposit 2 2c —

502 Soft sand over alleyway deposit 2 2c 502

503 Compact sand silt inside building deposit 2 2c 502

504 Compact sand outside building deposit 2 2c 504

505 Shell surface within structure deposit 2 2b 505

506 occupation deposit deposit 2 2c 506

507 Fill if robber pit (?) [508] fill 2 2c —

508 Robber pit cut 2 2c 508

509 levelling layer same as (510) deposit 2 2b 509

510 levelling layer same as (509) deposit 2 2b 510

511 surface with ash deposit 2 2b 511

512 ash layer deposit 2 2b 512

513 sandy layer, northeast corner, inside building deposit 2 2a 513

514 eroded / slumped mud packing from wall deposit 2 2c 514

515 occupation deposit deposit 2 2a 515

516 wall wall 2 2b 516

517 fill of tanur fill 2 2b —

518 fill of small pit fill 2 2b —

519 cut of small pit cut 2 2b 519

520 fill of [521] fill 2 2b —

521 possibly posthole cut 2 2b 519

522 fill of firepit [525] fill 2 2b —

523 fill of firepit [525] fill 2 2b —


525 Firepit cut cut 2 2b 519


527 fill of [528] fill 2 2b —


529 fill of [530] fill 2 2b —


531 layer of dark ash and sand around possible oven / tanur

deposit 2 2b 531

532 layer of ashy sand deposit 2 2b 532

533 lining of tanur (clay) fill 2 2b 531

534 cut of tanur cut 2 2b 519

535 natural sand deposit 2 — 535

536 fill of [537] fill 2 2a —

537 posthole cut cut 2 2a 535

538 fill of [539] fill 2 2a —

539 possibly posthole / animal burrow cut 2 2a 535

540 surface collection from midden to west of northern settlement

surface pick up

‐ — —



Appendix B: Preliminary phased stratigraphic matrices Trench 1 ‐ Stratigraphic Matrix



Trench 2 ‐ Stratigraphic Matrix



Appendix C: Finds list

Finds number Context number Bulk / Item Material / Description

1 1 Bulk Pot

2 1 Bulk Shells

3 1 Bulk Glass

4 1 Bulk Metal

5 1 Bulk Stone (hematite ‐ fragment of a weight?)

6 2 Bulk Shells

7 2 Bulk Pot

8 2 Bulk Metal

9 2 Bulk Bones

10 3 Bulk Shells

11 3 Bulk Pot

12 3 Bulk Glass

13 3 Bulk Bones

14 3 Bulk Metal

15 3 Bulk Stone

16 2 Bulk Glass

17 6 Bulk Bones

18 6 Bulk Shells

19 6 Bulk Metal

20 6 Bulk Pot

21 6 Item Metal cartridge

22 4 Bulk Pot

23 4 Bulk Bones

24 4 Bulk Metal

25 4 Bulk Glass

26 4 Bulk Shells

27 4 Bulk Plaster wall

28 7 Bulk Bones

29 7 Bulk Shells

30 7 Bulk Gypsum

31 7 Bulk Pot

32 10 Bulk Shells

33 10 Bulk Metal

34 10 Bulk Gypsum

35 10 Bulk Pot

36 10 Bulk Bones

37 13 Bulk Pot

38 13 Bulk Glass

39 13 Bulk Shells

40 13 Bulk Metal

41 13 Bulk Bones

42 14 Bulk Metal

43 14 Bulk Bones

44 14 Bulk Shells

45 14 Bulk Pot

46 11 Bulk Bones

47 11 Bulk Metal

48 11 Bulk Pot

49 15 Bulk Pot

50 15 Bulk Metal

51 5 Bulk Shells




52 5 Bulk Glass

53 5 Bulk Metal

54 5 Bulk Bones

55 5 Bulk Pot

56 25 Bulk Pot

57 25 Bulk Glass

58 25 Bulk Bones

59 17 Item Metal coin

60 17 Bulk Glass

61 17 Bulk Shells

62 17 Bulk Bones

63 17 Bulk Pot

64 22 Bulk Metal

65 22 Bulk Glass

66 22 Bulk Shells

67 22 Bulk Bones

68 22 Bulk Pot

69 29 Bulk Pot

70 29 Bulk Bones

71 32 Bulk Pot

72 32 Bulk Bones

73 32 Bulk Shells

74 30 Bulk Pot

75 30 Bulk Bones

76 27 Bulk Metal

77 27 Bulk Pot

78 27 Bulk Bones

79 27 Bulk Shells

80 33 Bulk Metal

81 33 Bulk Pot

82 33 Bulk Bones

83 33 Bulk Shells

84 28 Bulk Pot

85 28 Bulk Bones

86 28 Bulk Shells

87 31 Bulk Pot hand picked

88 31 Bulk Bones hand picked

89 31 Item Glass bangle hand picked

90 31 Bulk Shells hand picked

91 31 Bulk Pot sieved

92 31 Bulk Bones sieved

93 31 Bulk Shells sieved

94 39 Bulk Pot

95 37 Bulk Stone

96 37 Bulk Pot

97 37 Bulk Bones

98 34 Bulk Bones

99 34 Bulk Shells

100 34 Bulk Pot

101 35 Bulk Bones

102 35 Bulk Shells

103 35 Bulk Metal

104 35 Bulk Pot




105 40 Bulk Metal

106 40 Item Glass bangle

107 40 Bulk Pot

108 40 Bulk Shells

109 40 Bulk Bones

110 41 Bulk Pot

111 41 Bulk Shells

112 41 Bulk Bones

113 41 Bulk Glass

114 41 Bulk Metal

115 41 Bulk Charcoal sample

116 41 Bulk Clay

117 43 Bulk Pot

118 43 Bulk Shells

119 43 Bulk Bones

120 42 Bulk Pot

121 42 Bulk Clay

122 42 Bulk Bones

123 44 Bulk Bones

124 44 Bulk Pot


126 40 Bulk Clay

127 43 Bulk Flint



130 43 Bulk Clay

131 42 Bulk Shells

132 32 Bulk Gypsum


134 46 Bulk Tannur

135 48 Bulk Pot


137 22 Bulk Gypsum






Appendix D: Sample list

Sample No.

Context No. Trench No.

Volume (litre)

Date Taken Description

1001 4 1 10 24/02/2016 Plaster from rubble collapse or surface (?)



1004 7 1 10 25/02/2016 internal surfaces




1008 27 1 10 06/03/2016 surface in centre of trench (alleyway)




1012 29 1 10 07/03/2016 clayey occupation layer ‐ excavated in slot

1013 29 1 10 07/03/2016 clayey occupation layer ‐ excavated in slot

1014 31 1 10 08/03/2016 sequence of surfaces excavated in slot

1015 31 1 10 08/03/2016 sequence of surfaces excavated in slot

1016 40 1 10 09/03/2016 midden layer

1017 40 1 10 09/03/2016 midden layer

1018 40 1 10 09/03/2016 midden layer

1019 41 1 10 09/03/2016 dirty sandy midden layer



1022 42 1 10 10/03/2016 midden layer

1023 42 1 10 10/03/2016 midden layer

1024 42 1 10 10/03/2016 midden layer

1051 506 2 10 29/02/2016 occupation layer


1053 505 2 10 29/02/2016 shell surface

1054 505 2 10 29/02/2016 shell surface

1055 505 2 10 29/02/2016 shell surface

1056 505 2 10 29/02/2016 shell surface

1057 510 2 10 01/03/2016 levelling layer

1058 510 2 10 01/03/2016 levelling layer

1059 513 2 10 02/03/2016 ash lens

1060 511 2 10 02/03/2016 ash layer

1061 512 2 10 02/03/2016 ash layer

1062 512 2 10 02/03/2016 ash layer






Sample No.

Context No. Trench No.

Volume (litre)

Date Taken Description

1066 517 2 10 07/03/2016 fill

1067 518 2 10 07/03/2016 fill of pit [519]

1068 518 2 10 07/03/2016 fill of pit [519]

1069 518 2 10 07/03/2016 fill of pit [519]

1070 520 2 10 07/03/2016 fill of pit [521]

1071 523 2 10 08/03/2016 fill of fire pit [525]

1072 517 2 10 08/03/2016 fill

1073 524 2 10 08/03/2016 fill of tanur

1074 526 2 10 08/03/2016 fill of tanur

1075 527 2 10 08/03/2016 fill of [528]

1076 527 2 10 08/03/2016 fill of [528]

1077 529 2 10 08/03/2016 fill of [530]

1078 529 2 10 08/03/2016 fill of [530]

1079 531 2 10 09/03/2016 ash layer

1080 532 2 10 09/03/2016 light grey ash

1081 533 2 10 09/03/2016 clay tanur lining

1082 536 2 10 10/03/2016 Fill of possible posthole [537]

1083 538 2 10 10/03/2016 Fill of possible posthole [539]

Archaeological Survey and Excavation at Fuwairit

Documents

Transcript of Archaeological Survey and Excavation at Fuwairit