miniature shell and bone ‘hilts’ or ‘pulleys’ from sharm
TRANSCRIPT
Miniature shell and bone ‘hilts’ or ‘pulleys’from Sharm
IntroductionA group of thirteen miniature shell and boneobjects was recovered from the excavations atSharm (Fig. 1, Table 1). Although they are largelysimilar in form, it appears that these artefacts aremanufactured from at least several different typesof shell, as well as from bone (1). Little has beenwritten on these distinctive artefacts, particularlysince their exact function is yet to be determined. Abrief discussion as to the nature and potentialfunction of these objects is followed by an inven-tory of all the items.
Potential functions and parallelsThe objects constituting this artefact class have beenfound at other sites in southeastern Arabia. Oneparticular object displayed in the National Museumof Ras al-Khaimah is similar in shape to S-169, andanother variant from al-Qusais is displayed in DubaiMuseum. Several of these types of artefacts also existin the unpublished assemblage from Mereshid tombin Fu-jairahwhich has both Wadi Suq and Iron AgeII components (2).
Although, the so-called miniature ‘hilts’ werefound at various sites in the Oman Peninsula, verylittle progress has been made in terms of identifyingtheir potential function. Objects consistent with theSharrn examples are present in the assemblage from
Shimal tomb SH 102 (3) and in the first-millenniumBC overground-subterranean graves in the Samadcemetery in Oman (4). It is in relation to thesepublished examples that we find some attempt toidentify the nature and function of these enigmaticobjects. Vogt has suggested several possibilities. Hemaintains that the examples found in the Samadcemetery are manufactured from white magnesite,and are comparable in shape to the hilts of modernOmani khanjars (curved daggers worn at the belt).Such a description does not appear apt for the Sharmobjects. However, Vogt also suggested that the sizeof the so-called hilts found in the graves makes themsuitable for use only in relation to an iron pin alsofound in the region, Interestingly, a bronze pin orawl was also found in tomb I at Sharm (5). However,given that the shaft diameter of this item is a mere3 mm, it is unlikely that it would have been used inconjunction with the so-called hilts since the diam-eters of the latter are usually too large for the smallshaft diameter of the former object. Furthermore, ifthe items were indeed meant to hold an awl, then itis difficult to determine why the perforation throughthe central axis is invariably drilled from one end toanother. Practicality would demand a hole drilledonly part-way into the material in order to provide asurface against which the awl could rest. In theircurrent state, the so-called hilts from Sharm couldnot logically hold an awl in place without further
Thirteen unusual shell and bone objects of contentious function are amongstthe small finds from tomb I at Sharm. An inventory of the objects is providedafter a discussion of the potential use of the objects is presented.
Diane BarkerUniversity of Sydney,Australia
Diane Baker
School of Archaeology A14
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006, Australia
Arab. arch. epig. 2004: 15: 115–119 (2004)
Printed in Denmark. All rights reserved
115
adjustment or support. Vogt also suggested that theobjects may have been used as a rope-maker’s pulley(6), which may be a more plausible explanationgiven that the perforation through the vertical axis ofall the Sharm pieces extends the entire length of theartefacts.
Vogt dated the over-ground-subterranean burialstructures from which these objects are derived tothe fourth or third centuries BC (7), which isconsistent with an Iron III date. In contrast, theartefacts of a similar nature from Shimal tomb SH102 come from a late Wadi Suq context (8). Further-more, the Mereshid examples belong to an assem-blage with Wadi Suq and Iron Age II pottery. As aresult, these artefacts appear to have little chronolo-gical significance. Compounding this problem ofdating is the inability to identify positively thefunction of these items. For the time being at least,they must remain enigmatic.
Inventory of artefactsS-146S-146 (Fig. 1, 2.2) is a. truncated cone-shaped objectwith a slightly flattened profile. The perforationthrough the vertical axis is wider at the apex and thebase and it exhibits a slight narrowing in the centre.S-146 also possesses a hole on the front face, whichappears to be naturally occurring. Four grooves orspirals emanate from the hole and continue aroundto the back of the object.
S-147This object is an elongated cone-shaped shell witha truncated apex. It is the longest specimen in thegroup, at 49 mm. It also possesses a perforationthrough the central axis, which varies in thicknessalong the length of the artefact. The central
perforation reaches its narrowest point just belowthe second hole, situated in the centre of theobject’s front face. A number of spirals emanatefrom this hole, strongly suggesting that the objectis fashioned from shell. The first spiral is a deepgroove, whereas the rest are shallow patterns onthe object’s surface.
S–148S–148 is a truncated cone, although the base is onlymarginally wider than the apex. The top view of theapex is rounded, whereas the base is somewhatelliptical or rectangular. The object only possessesone perforation, which extends through the centralaxis but is slightly off-centre. The unevenness of theperforation’s thickness suggests that it may havebeen drilled from each and until the drilling actionsmet in the centre (9). The proposition that theperforation was drilled is supported by noticeablegrooves on the internal walls of the object. Theartefact possesses a series of joined spirals on thefront and back face, although they do not emanatefrom any perforation.
S-164The rounded, truncated cone shape of S-164remains in a fairly good state of preservationdespite the broken portion evident around the apexof the back face. It possesses only one perforationthrough the vertical axis, which is slightly off-centre. Spirals grace the front and back faces. Thefront face has a very deep spiral where holes arelocated on other artefacts in this class. Fainterspirals emanate from this deeply-cut central spiral,which extend across the face of the object to itssides. The back face also has a very faint spiralmotif, which is unconnected to the spirals on thefront face.
Fig. 1.
A range of miniature ‘hilts’ or ‘pulleys’
from Sharm. Left to right: S-226, 352, 169,
307, 146.
D. BARKER
116
S-165The truncated cone shape of S-165 is fairly roundedand elongated. It has a perforation through thevertical axis, which is slightly off-centre, Rather thana further hole on the front face, it has a faint spiralpattern which does not extend to the back. It is invery poor condition, being pockmarked with holes.The surface is abraded and the base and apex arebroken.
S-169S-169 (Fig. 1, 2.1) is quite unlike the other artefactsin this class of objects. Rather than being atruncated cone, it is bell-shaped with an ellipticalcross-section. Of all the objects in this group, it isthe most likely to have been manufactured frombone, given its vastly different texture and appear-ance compared with the other examples. However,some doubt still remains as to whether S-169 isactually made from bone given that the spirals onthe front and back faces appear to be naturallyoccurring, as is the case with other objects. Thespiral on the front face cuts deeply into the surface,and is framed by a series of faint spiral pat-ternsboth on the front and back faces of the object.Interestingly, the main spiral on the back facecorresponds to the position of the deep spiral onthe front face, although the former is only a patternas opposed to a grooved spiral cutting into thematerial. The perforation through the central axis iswell executed and very regular, and the objectremains in excellent condition.
S-226S–226 (Fig. 1) is a badly broken cone-shaped object,It is difficult to ascertain the shape of the cross-section due to the portion missing at the base of theobject, although the top view of the apex suggests around cross-section. S-226 is almost certainly madefrom, shell with its soft, pasty texture arid easilyscratched surface (10). There is only one perforationin the object, which extends through the centralaxis. The interior of this hole is characterised by anumber of grooves, which resemble the patterns onthe exterior surface of the object. It is possible thatthey are naturally occurring since it is difficult toimagine a tool capable of producing such patterns.The spirals decorating the front surface of theT
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MINIATURE ‘HILTS’ OR ‘PULLEYS’ FROM SHARM
117
object are quite deep, although they do not emanatefrom any hole on the face of the artefact. Thesespirals extend around the entire surface of theobject.
S-233This object is almost cylindrical in shape, both at theapex and at the base. It possesses a perforationthrough the central axis, which is misaligned nearthe apex but which becomes more centred as itreaches the base. A fragmented hole is evident onthe front face of the object. From this hole, a numberof shallower spirals emanate and cover the entirefront face of the artefact.
A similar spiral occurs on the back of the object,and although it consists of deep grooves, it does notpenetrate the wall. S-233 is in very poor conditionwith the apex having broken off at some time in thepast.
S-255S-255 was once a truncated cone with an ellipticalcross-section although the apex is now broken. Itstexture is very soft and chalky. The central perfor-ation through the long axis is marked by a series ofgrooves, suggesting that the object was carved byhand. This perforation is also somewhat misaligned.The hole on the front face is surrounded by a seriesof deeply spiralled grooves, although this is notreplicated on the back face. Rather, the latter ischaracterised by faint spirals and other such
patterns, which are wholly independent from thespirals on the other side. This object also exhibits anunusual feature in the form of eight (?) drilleddepressions along the side of the artefact. It isuncertain whether these holes were an adjunct to themanufacturing process. The chalkiness of the objectmakes it very likely that it is manufactured fromshell.
S-306S-306 is cylindrical in shape since the diameter of theapex is almost identical to that of the base, but for aslightly elliptical cross-section. The perforationthrough the central axis is of differing thicknessthrough the centre of the artefact. The front faceexhibits a further hole, from which a series of faintspirals radiate. This feature, minus the hole, isreplicated on the back surface and covers the entireface. The object is in reasonable condition, althoughthere is one broken edge along the base.
S-307S-307 (Fig. 1) is an alongated truncated cone with anelliptical cross-section at the base. It is impossible toascertain the cross-section of the broken apex. Thetexture of the artefact is smooth, despite someabrasion, since it lacks the deeply grooved spiralsevident on a number of other artefacts in this class.Rather, it possesses faint, shallow spirals on its frontand back faces. The perforation through the centralaxis is slightly misaligned.
Fig. 2.
A selection of the miniature ‘hilts’ or
‘pulleys’ from Sharm. 1: S-169; 2: S-146;
3: S-352.
D. BARKER
118
S–352S–362 (Fig. 1) is a truncated cone with a roundedcross-section and an angled apex. The central per-foration, which is misaligned, does not end at thevery tip of the object since the apex is tapered(Fig. 2.3). The hole on the front surface, surroundedby a deep spiral and a series of fainter patterns, islocated towards the base of the object. The back facehas a faint spiral corresponding to the position of thespiral on the front face, from which a number ofspirals emanate.
S–392The last object in this artefact class consists of a tubewith a flaring apex and base. It is strikingly similarin shape to a comparable artefact from Shimal tombSH 102 (11) despite the broken apex of the Sharm
example. The cross-section is somewhat flattened,with the base tapering off to a point. It has a verysmooth texture, and appears to be made of the samematerial as S-169 (bone?). The hole on the face of theobject is irregular and it may not have been inten-tionally carved. The perforation through the centralaxis is misaligned and it may have been subject to adouble drilling action from either end, which failedto meet in the centre. It appears that the hole on thefront face was caused by a midirected drilling actionwhich occurred too close to the surface of the object.Faint spiralling occurs on the back face only, withthe one groove cut into the object being less than1 mm deep. The front face exhibits no ostensiblepattern. Although it is sligthly abraded at the baseand has a broken apex, S–392 is in relatively goodcondition.
Notes1. E. Thompson recognised the fact that
several of objects are not made from
shell. Pers. Comm. 13/2/98. A number
of similar objects in Dubai Museum are
described as being made from bone,
whereas they are described as shell
objects in the National Museum of Rasal-Khaimah. The possibility that bone
was used to manufacture some of the
artefacts in the Sharm collection must
not be discounted, although it was not
possible to ascertain the exact compo-
sition with any certainty during the
study.
2. The author briefly examined the
material from Mereshid in February
1998. It is hoped a more extensive
study of the assemblage will take place
in the near future.
3. Vogt B & Kastner J-M. Tomb SH 102.
In: Vogt B & Franke-Vogt U, eds.
Shimal 1985/1986: Excavations of theGerman Archaeological Mission in Ras al-Khaimah, UAE: A Preliminary Report.Berlin: BBVO/8: 1987: 32-33, Fig 18.5.
4. Vogt B. 1st Mill B.C. Graves and Burial
Customs in the Samad Area(Oman).
In: Boucharlat R. & Salles J-F, eds.
Arabie orientale, Mesopotamie et Iran-meridional de l’age du fer au debut de laperiode islmique. Paris: Editions
Recherche sur les Civilisations
Memoire 37, 1984: 274.
5. S–4 is published in relation to the metal
analyses by L. Weeks, elsewhere in this
volume.
6. Vogt, 1st Mill B.C. Graves: 274.
7. Vogt, 1st Mill B.C. Graves: 274.8. Vogt & Kastner, Tomb SH 102: 35–36
9. On this method of double drilling see
the author’s article on the beads from
Sharm, elsewhere in this volume.
10. Shells may go chalky in acidic soils.
Thompson, pers. Comm. 13/2/98.
11. Vogt & Kastner, Tomb SH 102: Fig.
18.5.
MINIATURE ‘HILTS’ OR ‘PULLEYS’ FROM SHARM
119