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Prehistoric communities along the coasts of southeastern Arabia relied heavily on marine resources. However, dolphin remains in the zooarchaeological record remain poorly understood due to fragmentation, taphonomic changes, limited osteological collections, and the lack of a specific methodology for determination. In response to these challenges, the DExPO project aimed to develop a protocol for the analysis of osteological data from odontocetes and cetaceans from Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age sites in central Oman. Agreements with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism along and support from the Natural History Museum of Oman facilitated the project. Initial implementation took place in a pilot project (2019-2020) on cetaceans in the NHM collection, and has been extended to analyse archaeological remains from key sites in Ash-Sharqiyah Governorate. Ongoing objectives include developing a methodology for identifying and documenting archaeological dolphin remains and applying these methods to large osteological collections. This is central to the study of dolphin hunting and exploitation strategies, combining zooarchaeological, material culture and environmental data, using ethnographic parallels and experimental approaches. Through the DExPO project, the enigmatic relationship between prehistoric communities and marine mammals is gradually being unravelled, providing insights into their ancient coexistence along the coasts of the Arabian Sea.
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The DExPO Project (Dolphin Exploitation in Prehistoric Oman), conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the Natural History Museum of Oman, investigates the role of cetaceans within the coastal economies of southeastern Arabia from the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. This paper presents the results of a study on the marine mammal assemblages from Ras al-Hadd (HD-1, HD-2, HD-5) and Ras al-Jinz (RJ-2, RJ-3). Dolphin bones form a substantial yet understudied part of the faunal record. Over 570 diagnostic elements—mainly vertebrae, cranial, and flipper bones—were recorded using a dedicated analytical protocol for cetacean remains in the region. The identification of skeletal elements and species was aided by modern reference materials at the NHM Oman. Anatomical, biogeographic, and taphonomic factors complicate identification, so the adopted protocol integrates a suite of bone measurements statistically discriminating between species. Additionally, taphonomic marks such as traces of combustion and butchery were documented. The integrated analytical results support the hypothesis of a selective targeting of small-sized delphinids, likely Stenella spp., indicating that dolphin procurement was not opportunistic but structured and recurrent. These practices appear to have been seasonally patterned and closely linked to the ecological dynamics of lagoonal and open-sea environments. Moreover, evidence suggests dolphin remains were systematically used in fire production. This research highlights the emergence of specialised maritime economies and strategic exploitation across diverse coastal environments.
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Shifting the focus from the well-studied coast to the inland piedmont opens a new chapter in understanding the Neolithic of South Arabia. The HERDS in Oman Project at the site of KHS-A, near al-Khashbah, offers a rare opportunity to view Neolithic lifeways from an inland perspective... [Texte intégral respecté]