Shellfish Gatherers at the Mid-Holocene Settlement of KHB-1 (Phase Seventh Millennium BC), Ra's al-Khabbah (Ash Sharqiyah Region, Sultanate of Oman)

Abstract

The paper summarises the results from the study of the marine fauna documented in the Holocene site of KHB‐1, Phase 0, corresponding to the seventh millennium BC, as the earliest recorded occupation of the settlement. Situated along the coast on a marine terrace in the Ash Sharqiyah region (Sultanate of Oman). The archaeomalacological record is presented for units 120, 131 and 140, from a structure filled by silty sediment mixed with shells midden remains. We present a morphological, taxonomic and taphonomic study of the archaeomalacological record, assessing possible areas of origin of the species consumed. This study confirms previous studies on the economic activities of these societies, which continued to have important hunter–gatherer practices, but with a great dedication to the exploitation of coastal resources (sea and lagoon). Basically, archaeomalacological material has been documented from this phase, as well as the remains of a shell midden, which have been the product of human consumption. This confirms the strong relationship with the exploitation of the marine resources of the site, which will be confirmed in later phases of the site’s occupation.