Beads and pendants from Inqitat (Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman)

Abstract

The assemblage of personal adornments made of various materials, excavated from the archaeological site of Inqitat (Al Hamr al-Sharqiya) in the Khor Rori area (Dhofar) in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, spans the entire period of occupation of the site from prehistoric times through the Islamic period. Its significance stems from the location of Inqitat near Sumhuram and its socio-political setting. The use of specific stones suggests links with the Gulf and the eastern Indian Ocean. Furthermore, the discovery of tools used for bead-making demonstrates the existence of a local craft in the case of at least some of the adornments. The long occupation of the site could help to identify typical materials for each period, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the Dhofar area and its international connections.

Keywords

• Dhofar
• Oman
• personal adornments
• pre-Islamic Arabia
• Inqitat