Roads of Arabia

More documents

Recommendations

Info

28 Arabie_ US_p462-469_BAT.qxd 23/06/10 21:43 Page 466 ROADS OF ARABIA Al-Mabiyat: the Islamic Town of Qurh in the Province of al-Ula centuries, with a peak period between the mid-9th and 11th centuries, coinciding with the evolution of Qurh recounted by ancient sources. There were also a few surface discoveries dating from the Nabataean and Byzantine periods. Along with ordinary, unglazed pottery, some of whose types have similarities with pieces found on Syro-Jordanian sites from the Umayyad and Abassid periods, there are also several kinds of imported glazed ceramics dating from the 9th to the 12th centuries: opaque white glazes with lustre decoration, mainly from the 10th and 11th centuries (cat. no. 279); splashware and sgraffiato pieces; monochrome glazes, usually blue or green, and often datable to the latest phase (11th and 12th centuries); and a few rare examples of brown or black underglaze decoration, also from the late period. A few Chinese imports were also found, white porcelains and celadons, also linkable to the last phase of the site’s occupation. Glass objects A variety of vessels and small and larger bottles in transparent, clear or blue, green or light brown glass were found. There are several examples of mould-blown glass with painted or engraved decoration, and a few rare opaque glass pieces, particularly beads. There were also several fragments of lustre-painted or “stained” glass, including an exceptional lid with a vegetal and epigraphic decoration, attributable to the 10th and 11th centuries. Several glass monetary weights from the Fatimid period were unearthed. Map of the site concerning aspects of the inner retaining walls, the absence of stone foundations, and other details needed to gain a clear and precise idea of the wall. The retaining walls were built after the wall itself and not directly against it. As mentioned above, rather curiously, the mud bricks used to build the retaining walls were triangular with one curved side, a form specifically designed for building cylindrical columns, and not the more suitable quadrangular form of brick. And why were these retaining walls relatively thin (70 x 90 centimetres) and never more than 70 centimetres high, if they were to support a wall 1.5 metres thick and 2.5 metres high (according to current data)? The discovery of other retaining walls along the city wall could eventually reveal the exact purpose of this architectural element. If one assumes that these walls were built in the same way all along the enclosure wall, then their role must have been to support it. If this is not so, then they might have been part of other architectural structures built against the enclosure wall. Metallic objects A number of iron, bronze and even copper objects were unearthed on the site, including extremely eroded – and therefore difficult to read – coins, weights, an incense burner (cat. no. 280), a pair of pliers, pins and rings. Other materials These included soft stone crockery and lamps (cat. no. 281), shell and coral beads and even fragments of fabric. Pottery fragments with incised designs, glazed splashes and dots, 10th–11th century, found at al-Mabiyat Fragment of a lustre-painted glass lid, late 10th century, found at al-Mabiyat The objects found on the site A large number of objects have been unearthed on the site. Unglazed and glazed ceramic objects A great many pottery fragments were found. A preliminary study established a chronology and typology for Islamic pottery at al-Mabiyat. Its time frame, stretching from the 7th to the 12th Bibliography: Al-Afghani 1960; Al-‘Umayr et al. 2006; Ibrahim, al-Talhi et al. 1985; Al-Istakhri; Al-Muqaddasi; Nassif 1416 H.; Yaqut. 466 467
28 Arabie_ US_p462-469_BAT.qxd 23/06/10 21:44 Page 468 ROADS OF ARABIA AL-MABIYAT 277. Facing plaque 9th–10th century? Moulded earthenware 23 x 17 x 4.5 cm Al-Mabiyat National Museum, Riyadh, 2385 279. Cup with radiating decoration 10th century Clay earthenware, lustre painted decoration on opaque glaze Diam. (base). 8.5 cm Al-Mabiyat National Museum, Riyadh, 1034 Bibliography: Ibrahim, Al-Talhi et al. 1985, pl. 101–16 and pl. 111. Bibliography: Ibrahim, Al-Thalhi et al. 1985, pl. 108; Al-‘Umayr et al. 2006, pl. 10–2. 278. Fragment of facing 9th?–10th century? Moulded earthenware Al-Mabiyat National Museum, Riyadh, 852 Bibliography: unpublished. 280. Element of an incense-burner 8th–10th century? Cast copper alloy H. 9 cm; Diam. 20 cm Al-Mabiyat Department of Archaeology Museum, King Saud University, Riyadh, 237M2 Bibliography: unpublished. 281. Star-shaped lamp 8th–10th century Carved soapstone H. 4 cm; Diam. 22 cm Al-Mabiyat Department of Archaeology Museum, King Saud University, Riyadh, 73M2 Bibliography: Al-‘Umayr et al. 2006, pl. 10–19 d. 468
Page 1 and 2:
00 Arabie Saoudiens_p001-033_US.qxd
Page 3 and 4:
Page 5 and 6:
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
01 Arabie_US_p034-043_BAT.qxd 23/06
Page 21 and 22:
01 Arabie_US_p034-043_BAT.qxd 23/06
Page 23 and 24:
02 Arabie US p044-053_BAT.qxd 23/06
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
02bis (08) Arabie US p54-69_BAT.qxd
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
04 Arabie US_p080-99_BAT.qxd 23/06/
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
05 Arabie US p100-109_CM_BAT.qxd 23
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
08bis Arabie US p132-135.qxd 23/06/
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
10 Arabie US_p158-165_BAT.qxd 23/06
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
14 Arabie US_p218-261.qxd 23/06/10
Page 113 and 114:
14 Arabie US_p218-261.qxd 23/06/10
Page 115 and 116:
14 Arabie US_p218-261.qxd 23/06/10
Page 117 and 118:
14 Arabie US_p218-261.qxd 23/06/10
Page 119 and 120:
14 Arabie US_p218-261.qxd 23/06/10
Page 121 and 122:
14 Arabie US_p218-261.qxd 23/06/10
Page 123 and 124:
14 Arabie US_p218-261.qxd 23/06/10
Page 125 and 126:
14 Arabie US_p218-261.qxd 23/06/10
Page 127 and 128:
14 Arabie US_p218-261.qxd 23/06/10
Page 129 and 130:
14 Arabie US_p218-261.qxd 23/06/10
Page 131 and 132:
14 Arabie US_p218-261.qxd 23/06/10
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145 and 146:
17 Arabie US p286-307.qxd 23/06/10
Page 147 and 148:
17 Arabie US p286-307.qxd 23/06/10
Page 149 and 150:
17 Arabie US p286-307.qxd 23/06/10
Page 151 and 152:
17 Arabie US p286-307.qxd 23/06/10
Page 153 and 154:
17 Arabie US p286-307.qxd 23/06/10
Page 155 and 156:
Page 157 and 158:
Page 159 and 160:
Page 161 and 162:
Page 163 and 164:
Page 165 and 166:
Page 167 and 168:
Page 169 and 170:
Page 171 and 172:
Page 173 and 174:
Page 175 and 176:
Page 177 and 178:
Page 179 and 180:
Page 181 and 182:
Page 183 and 184: 19 Arabie US_p364-371_BAT.qxd 23/06
Page 195 and 196: 20bis Arabie US p386-391_BAT.qxd 23
Page 201 and 202: 22 Arabie US p398-403_BAT.qxd 23/06
Page 227 and 228: E A S M E D I T E R R A N E A N Jer
Page 229 and 230: ROADS OF ARABIA The Pilgrimage Road
Page 231 and 232: ROADS OF ARABIA al-Aqra‘ and al-H
Page 233: 28 Arabie_ US_p462-469_BAT.qxd 23/0
Page 283 and 284: 36 Arabie Saoudite US p561-567_BAT.
Page 285 and 286:
36 Arabie Saoudite US p561-567_BAT.
Page 287 and 288:
36bis Arabie Saoudie US p568-573_BA
Page 289 and 290:
37 Arabie Saoudite US_p574-577_BAT.
Page 291 and 292:
38-Arabie US p578-608.qxd 23/06/10
Page 293 and 294:
38-Arabie US p578-608.qxd 23/06/10
Page 295 and 296:
38-Arabie US p578-608.qxd 23/06/10
Page 297 and 298:
38-Arabie US p578-608.qxd 23/06/10
Page 299 and 300:
38-Arabie US p578-608.qxd 23/06/10
Page 301 and 302:
38-Arabie US p578-608.qxd 23/06/10
Page 303 and 304:
38-Arabie US p578-608.qxd 23/06/10
Page 305 and 306:
38-Arabie US p578-608.qxd 23/06/10
show all

Roads of Arabia

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?