Notes on four miscellaneous shell and organicobjects from Sharm

IntroductionSeveral artefacts from Tomb I at Sharm do not fitcomfortably within any given small finds category.It is therefore the object of this brief discussion todescribe these miscellaneous items with a possibleview to determining their function. Table 1 summa-rises the registration data for each object.

Gastropod shellS-133 (Figs 1, 2) is a lightweight gastropod of theTonnoidea superfamily and belonging to the Tonnidaefamily, and which are commonly known as tunshells. These are medium-sized globose shells with alow spire, relatively thin walls and a prominentaperture. A wavy or toothed lip distinguishes thelatter feature (1). An analysis of the published,malacological data concerning eastern Arabia sug-gests that S-133 may be classified as Tonna luteostoma(Kiister 1857) (2). S-133 has an almost flattened spireand, like other tun shells, is characterised by deeplychannelled sutures (3) and a series of spirals which

are dextrally coiled (4), which become more pro-nounced, as they approach the characteristic flutedlip. It has sixteen broad ribs apart from the apex (5).It appears that the aperture was removed at somestage, possibly in order to take out the animaldwelling inside (6). Originally, therefore, the em-bayment would have been more enclosed, than it isnow. S-133 is also noted for its deep umbilicussituated at the base of the central axis. Like othershells of this species, S-133 is ivory in colour;although it lacks the brown markings and axialstreaks of other such shells, and the interior of theaperture is a similar colour to the exterior, not brownor orange (7). The colour differentiation is, however,of little consequence since it is likely to have leechedout of the shell during several thousand years ofburial in the tomb (8).

Tonna luteostoma lives in a variety of habitats,including sandy, rocky and weedy environments (9).The fact that it is commonly found beached suggeststhat it occupies offshore habitats, but is deposited

Four miscellaneous artefacts, which do not correspond to the other majorsmall finds groups, are also included in the Sharm assemblage. Whilst thegastropod shell is positively identified as Tonna luteostoma, the materials andfunction of the remaining objects are conjectural.

Diane BarkerUniversity of Sydney,Australia

Diane Barker

School of Archaeology

The University of Sydney

NSW 2006, Australia

Table 1. Registration data for S-7, S-13, S-133 and S-236.

Reg.

No. Date Tomb Square Layer Easting Northing Level Object Material

Dimensions

(mm)

7 20/01/97 I 02/16 3 02 16 9.10–8.90 unknown fibrous wood? 77 (L) · 5 (W) · 5 (H)

13 23/01/97 I 02/17 5 2.55 17.05 8.62 unknown bone 40 (L) · 15.5 (W) · 9 (H)

133 4/02/97 I 02/13 6 2.13 13.10 9,57 function

uncertain

shell: Tonna

luteostoma

75 (L-broken) · 52 (W) ·48 (H)

236 8/02/97 I 02/15 7 02 15 8.50–8.35 unknown bone 36.5 (L) · 22 (W) · 7 (H)

Arab. arch. epig. 2004: 15: 20–23 (2004)

Printed in Denmark. All rights reserved

20

onshore via intertidal motion. Its distribution in-cludes the Gulf of Oman, which necessarily includesthe coastal region around Sharm (10).

The exact function of this artefact may be difficultto ascertain with any degree of certainty. It may haveserved a similar purpose to the shells of the Ficidaefamily, which also belong to the Tonnoidea super-

family (11). The so-called Ficus (fig) shells arethought to have been used as feeding implementsfor young children (12). However, the delicatelyfluted shape makes the Ficus shell perhaps moresuited for such a purpose than Tonna luteostoma.Alternatively, S-133 may have been found washedup along the shores of the adjacent coast and usedmerely as a decorative burial item for the tomb. Insupport of this assertion is the evidence for the useof Tonna olearium at Hili 8, which is an inland site.This particular species is listed as being used fordecorative items, such as beads, pendants and otherjewellery (13). It is also attested at Shimal despite thefact that Tonna shells are usually unknown insettlements (14).

Carved boneTwo artefacts fall into this class and may haveoriginally belonged to the same object, although thedimensions of each differ slightly (Fig. 3, 4). AsTable 1 indicates, each was found in relatively closeproximity to the other, given the size of Tomb I.

S-13 (Figs 3.1, 4) is a piece of worked bone whichis approximately 40 mm long with a slightly hemi-spherical profile. It has a raised, ‘cordon’ some2–3.5 mm high and 4.5–5 mm wide. It is in a fairlypoor state of preservation, with a number ofprominent cracks, chips and broken edges. Unfor-tunately, the condition of S-236 is worse (Figs 3.2,4). This artefact was found in three separate pieceswhich were reconstructed to form the current

Fig. 1.

Obverse and reverse of S-133.

Fig. 2.

Obverse of S-133.

FOUR MISCELLANEOUS SHELL AND ORGANIC OBJECTS

21

object. It is very similar in shape and material toS-13 with its hemispherical profile and raisedcordon near the upper edge. However, it is slightlybroader than the first example. The cordon is

slightly less prominent on the second piece,although it is still approximately 2.5 mm high and6 mm wide.

It is almost impossible to ascertain the function ofthese unusual objects since it is difficult to determinehow much of the original shape is extant. The onlypotential parallel for them comes in the form of abone (?) comb fragment from Shimal tomb SH 99.Although the profile is somewhat thicker, the face ofthe object appears similar to the Sharm examples.The main difference is that the piece from Shimal isdecorated with an incised horizontal line rather thana raised cordon (15). Unfortunately, however, S-13and S-236 lack any sign of the teeth evident on theShimal comb, rendering this parallel tentative atbest.

Fibrous objectS-7 (Figs 5, 6) is an even more enigmatic piece. Theexact nature of the material and the function ofthis artefact are equally elusive. It appears, how-ever, that it is some sort of organic article, with afibrous internal texture and a hard, greenish-greyouter surface. It is smooth to the touch, althoughone end is particularly chipped, and splintered. Nosuggestions can be proffered with respect to itsfunction.

AcknowledgementsThanks must go to Emma Thompson for reading through an

earlier draft of the report on S-133 (Tonna luteostoma) and offering

useful comments.

Fig. 5.

Fibrous object: S-7.

Fig. 6.

Fibrous object S-7.

Fig. 3.

Carved bone objects. 1: S-13; 2: S-236.

Fig. 4.

Carved bone objects, S-236 (left). S-13 (right).

D. BARKER

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91. Lindner & Vevers, Seashells of theWorld: 170.

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clockwise direction. Lindner & Vevers,

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5. Cf Hinton. Guide to Australian Shells: Pl.

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1987: 54, Fig. 36.16.

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