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Rock art survey in the ancient oasis of Salūt (northern Sultanate of Oman): a variegated iconographic record
Author(s) -
Degli Esposti Michele,
Cremaschi Mauro,
Zerboni Andrea
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
arabian archaeology and epigraphy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.384
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 1600-0471
pISSN - 0905-7196
DOI - 10.1111/aae.12164
Subject(s) - rock art , radiocarbon dating , archaeology , context (archaeology) , geography , motif (music) , ancient history , geology , history , art , aesthetics
The systematic survey of petroglyphs in the area of the ancient oasis of Salūt, in central Oman, highlighted a rich repertoire of representations that are here discussed against the background of Arabian rock art in general. The region displays an extremely rich number of engravings along the slopes of the Jabal Hammah, north of the main site of Salūt. The majority of the petroglyphs find abundant fitting comparisons in the region. The notable exception of the motif of the “man with halberd” is presented, as it appears to be significantly rare and underlines interpretative issues concerning the so‐called T‐shaped signs, ubiquitous in Arabian rock art. One of its occurrences was radiocarbon dated to before the mid‐first millennium BCE. This and other, relative hints for reconstructing the chronological context of the petroglyphs are discussed, indicating that engravings can be broadly dated from the second millennium BCE onwards.