The Holocene Settlement of KHB-1 (Ra's Al Khabbah, Sultanate Of Oman): an Overview

The paper summarizes the results from the srudy of the Holocene sire of KHB-J. Simared along the coast on a marine terrace in rhe Ja'alan region (Sultanate of Oman), the settlement is characterized by a plurisrratified ancluopic deposit with evidence of structural elements like pits, hearths, shelters and huts. Six phases of settlement occupation were recognised from the stratigraphic excavation, alternated by possible episodes of abandonment. A preliminary study of fauna! and malacological remains shows evidence that economical activities were principally based on exploitation of coastal resources (sea and lagoon). The material culture is mainly related witl1 economical activities: fishing implements produced locally, stone tools, stone :ind shell ornaments, worked shells, bone tools, stone vessels. Two burials are related to phases during which activities were carried our elsewhere in the settlement, or to a real phase of abandonment. Preliminary results show that the communiry ofKHB-1 occupied the site seasonally in order to exploit the abundant marine resources during the winter months.