Zooarchaeological Studies

During the excavation of a large funerary complex in Wadi Uyun at Sinaw (Ash-Sharqiyah North, Sultanate of Oman), which included necropolises dating from the Early Bronze Age up to the Late Iron Age, two entire skeletons of Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) were found within two graves (see the contribution by Candilio, Mauro & Loreto). Excavations at Sinaw brought to light the exceptional deposition of an adult male buried with a long iron sword and two iron daggers, which date the grave between the last centuries BC and the first centuries AD (see the contribution by Clarizia). Two burials (G.50 and G.59), including each the entire skeleton of a camel, were found in close proximity to G.58 and formed a single funerary cluster. G.50 and G.59 were different from G.58 for their shape, the materials used and the construction technique (see the contribution by Candilio). The pits of the camel graves were oval and narrowed towards the bottom, while the other one was rectangular. At the end of the funerary ritual, the pits were filled with soil and covered with stone slabs and a thin layer of soil. A small tumulus of stones was eventually built on their top to serve as landmark