Small Finds from ed-Dur, Umm al-Qaiwain, U.A.E. (Late 1st Cent. BCE to Early 2nd Cent. CE)

Volume IV of the ed-Dur series completes the previous publications on glass, tombs and architectural remains discovered during the Belgian excavations from 1986 until 1995 at ed-Dur. This harbor site was the largest settlement of the late 1st century BCE and 1st century CE on the Arabian coast between Qatar and the promontory of Musandam. The range of the finds reflects the site's extensive commercial contacts as well as its local SE-Arabian identity. It was part of an Arabian kingdom and could be the Omana mentioned by Classical authors. Apart from local produce that provide insight in the local economy and subsistence strategies, there are imports from Rome and the Mediterranean basin, Mesopotamia and Iran, the Indian subcontinent, North-East and Southern Arabia. The volume first discusses the regional SE-Arabian Abiel coinage and the presence of foreign coins, followed by metal finds and beads, bone and ivory, stone, pottery, shell, coral, glass and plaster objects.