New evidence for Neolithic occupation in north-west Arabia: Standing Stone Circles on the Harrat ‘Uwayrid

Figures & data

Figure 1 Satellite image of AlUla and Khaybar counties showing the location of the ḥarrah in north-west Arabia.

Figure 2 Location of Standing Stone Circle sites across the Harrat ‘Uwayrid. Excavated features discussed in detail in this paper are identified with red triangles.

Figure 3 Examples of enclosure construction on the Harrat ‘Uwayrid. A–B: multi cellular ‘honeycomb’ clusters of irregularly-shaped abutting enclosures with rubble walls — individual cells measure anywhere from 2.5 m to 35 m; C–D: Standing Stone Circles with upright stone walls (single Standing Stone Circle examples pictured).

Figure 4 Architectural features of single Standing Stone Circles. A: upright stone walls and single standing stone in the centre; B: standing stone packing; C: doorway with threshold stone; D: paved surface; E: channel formed from a double row of upright stones; F: collapsed cantilevered flat stone slab ‘roofing’.

Figure 5 Multi-Standing Stone Circles. A: simple multi-Standing Stone Circle; B: collection of partial multi-Standing Stone Circles.

Figure 6 A: IDIHA-0001825 comprising multiple discrete simple and complex Standing Stone Circles denoted by white arrows (overbuilt by later tombs); B: IDIHA-0004612 comprising a single Standing Stone Circle — measuring 5.5 m (IDIHA-F-0029843) adjacent to a complex enclosure.

Figure 7 Radiocarbon dates from excavated contexts in eight single Standing Stone Circles. All samples presented here are faunal remains dated using bioapatite.

Figure 8 Groundstone axe from basalt recovered from IDIHA-F-0029844. Scale is 2 cm long.

Table 1 Summary of lithic assemblages by material weights (g) recovered through excavation at the discussed single Standing Stone Circle features

Site	IDIHA-F-0011030		IDIHA-F-0011045		IDIHA-F-0011050		IDIHA-F-0029843		IDIHA-F-0029844
Basalt	8714	97.9%	104,398	98.8%	31,092	98.6%	58,418	96.3%	18,136	93.8%
Quartz	176	1.9%	955	0.9%	294	0.9%	1922	3.2%	1000	5.2%
Chert	11	0.1%	299	0.2%	138	0.4%	291	0.5%	159	0.8%
Other			16	<0.1%	4	<0.1%	39	<0.1%	30	0.2%
Total	8901		105,668		31,528		60,670		19,336

Table 2 Summary of retouched and groundstone artefacts (frequencies and percentages) recovered through excavation at the discussed single Standing Stone Circle features

	Site	IDIHA-F-0011030		IDIHA-F-0011045		IDIHA-F-0011050		IDIHA-F-0029843		IDIHA-F-0029844
Retouched Tools	Informal	1	12.5%	29	15.4%	15	15.1%	7	10.3%	8	17.7%
	Notch	5	62.5%	79	41.8%	48	48.5%	26	38.2%	22	48.8%
	Denticulate	2	25%	27	14.3%	17	17.1%	10	14.7%	3	6.6%
	Scraper			28	14.8%	14	14.1%	12	17.6%	5	11.1%
	Chopper			10	5.3%	2	2%	5	7.4%	1	2.2%
	Arrowhead			14	7.4%	2	2%	3	4.4%	5	11.1%
	Drill/borer			2	1.1%					1	2.2%
	Plano-convex tool					1	1%	4	5.9%
	Retouched blade							1	1.5%
	Total	8		189		99		68		45
Groundstone Tools	Grindstone							11	13.3%
	Grindstone Fragment			8	44.4%			5	6.0%	4	26.6%
	Muller			3	16.6%			23	27.7%	5	33.3%
	Muller Fragment	1	100%	4	22.2%			21	25.3%	3	20.0%
	Ground Sandstone			1	5.5%			21	25.3%	1	6.6%
	Palette					1	100%	1	1.2%	1	6.6%
	Cone			1	5.5%			1	1.2%
	Axe									1	6.6%
	Total	1		18		1		83		15

Figure 9 Typical retouched chert artefacts. A–F Arrowheads: A–B, D–E Ha-Parsa points; C, F Herzliya points. G Plano-convex tool. Scale is 2 cm long.

Figure 10 Tabular scrapers on chert. Scale is 2cm long.

Figure 11 Pigment processing items: A. Pigment-stained muller; B. Refitted pigment nodule; C. Stained grindstone. Scale is 5 cm long.

Figure 12 Groundstone ‘cone’ objects. Scale is 5 cm long (C. Kolb).

Table 3 Summary of faunal remains recovered through excavation at the discussed single Standing Stone Circle features listed by NISP and %NISP and weight

Taxa	NISP	% NISP	weight (g)	% weight
Goat	31	2.0%	162.2	5.6%
Sheep	30	1.9%	145.2	5.0%
Goat/sheep	47	3.0%	153.8	5.3%
Capra sp.	17	1.1%	72.7	2.5%
Ind. caprine	554	35.7%	493.1	32.4%
Bos sp.	23	1.5%	60.7	2.1%
Equus sp.	14	<1%	161.4	5.5%
Gazelle	4	<1%	5.7	<1%
Canis sp.	1	<1%	0.5	<1%
Hare	1	<1%	0.2	<1%
Rodent	3	<1%	0.3	<1%
Bird	1	<1%	1	<1%
Small ruminant	665	42.9%	700	24.0%
Large ungulate	157	10.1%	507.1	17.4%
Small carnivore	2	<1%	1.5	<1%
Total	1550	100%	2915.4	100%

Figure 13 Small finds found in single Standing Stone Circles: A. Carved stone ring; B–C. Carved stone pendants; D. Conus shell bead; E. Bone point; F. Bevelled bone tool. Scale is 5cm long.