Harlaa
Basic information
Sample name: Harlaa
Reference: J. S. Gaastra and T. Insoll. 2020. Animal economies and Islamic conversion in eastern Ethiopia: zooarchaeological analyses from Harlaa, Harar and Ganda Harla. Journal of African Archaeology 18(2):181-208 [ER 3749]
Geography
Country: Ethiopia
State: Afar
Coordinate: 9° 29' 10" N, 42° 55' 37" E
Latlng basis: stated in text
Time interval: Holocene
Max Ma: 0.001415
Min Ma: 0.00054
Age basis: radiocarbon (calibrated)
Geography comments: "The archaeological site of Harlaa is located at 1700 m ASL on the edge of the main fault escarpment of the southern Afar margin underneath the modern Oromo village of Ganda Biyo on the Dire Dawa to Dengego road in Ethiopia. It is situated approximately 40 km north-west of Harar and 15 km southeast of Dire Dawa".
"A total of 23 AMS dates were obtained from several excavation areas spanning the period between the mid-6th and early 15th centuries AD".
"A total of 23 AMS dates were obtained from several excavation areas spanning the period between the mid-6th and early 15th centuries AD".
Environment
Lithology: not described
Taphonomic context: human accumulation, settlement
Archaeology: buildings, burials, ceramics, hearths, other structures
Habitat comments: "Harlaa is a large urban centre covering a maximum area of approximately 500 m east to west by 900 m north to south. It is composed of several elements including a central settlement area, workshops, at least three early mosques, wells, lengths of fortification wall, and cemeteries to the north, east, and west".
"Significant evidence for manufacturing and participation in international Red Sea and western Indian Ocean trade networks, as well as regionally focused ones, has been recovered from Harlaa. Imported ceramics included black-on-yellow and other glazed wares of Yemeni/southern Red Sea provenance, Iranian lustre glazed frit, and Chinese celadon and white wares. AMS dates from the mosque and one single and one double Muslim burial in the cemeteries attest the presence of a Muslim community at Harlaa by the mid-12th century".
"Significant evidence for manufacturing and participation in international Red Sea and western Indian Ocean trade networks, as well as regionally focused ones, has been recovered from Harlaa. Imported ceramics included black-on-yellow and other glazed wares of Yemeni/southern Red Sea provenance, Iranian lustre glazed frit, and Chinese celadon and white wares. AMS dates from the mosque and one single and one double Muslim burial in the cemeteries attest the presence of a Muslim community at Harlaa by the mid-12th century".
Methods
Life forms: carnivores, rodents, ungulates, other large mammals, other small mammals, fishes
Sampling methods: quarry, screenwash
Sample size: 2163 specimens
Years: 2017 - 2019
Net or trap nights: 0
Basal area status: not applicable
Sampling comments: "Excavations of the site were conducted over several areas: a mosque (Area A), workshop complex (Area B), cemeteries (Areas C and D), a house with associated industrial/kitchen facility (Area E), and part of an extensive building complex, which included a defensive wall, and what may have been a reception hall (Area F). The faunal remains (below) were recovered from areas B, E, and F". No more specific excavation details are provided.
Metadata
Sample no: 3997
Contributor no: Benjamin Carter
Enterer: Benjamin Carter
Created: 2022-10-06 16:28:26
Modified: 2022-10-06 06:56:09
Abundance distribution
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts. Values are logged.
Statistics
29 species
4 singletons
total count 2163
geometric series index: 38.0
Fisher's α: 4.733
geometric series k: 0.7874
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.777
Shannon's H: 1.9887
Good's u: 0.9982
Register
| Bos taurus (cow) | 516 | |
| or Bos indicus | ||
| Ovis aries (sheep) | 327 | |
| Capra aegagrus hircus (wild goat) | 805 | |
| "Capra hircus" | ||
| Camelus sp. | 77 | |
| Equus africanus asinus (African wild ass) | 56 | |
| "Equus asinus" | ||
| Equus ferus caballus (wild horse) | 45 | |
| "Equus caballus"; also 69 Equus sp. | ||
| Canis lupus familiaris (gray wolf) | 9 | 43.0 kg |
| "Canis familiaris" | ||
| Felis catus (domestic cat) | 11 | |
| Kobus sp. | 12 | |
| Oryx sp. | 20 | |
| Tragelaphus sp. | 36 | |
| Litocranius walleri (gerenuk) | 11 | 31.0 kg |
| Redunca sp. | 47 | |
| Nanger sp. | 35 | |
| Sylvicapra grimmia (common duiker) | 1 | 13.0 kg |
| Dorcatragus megalotis (beira) | 50 | |
| Gazella sp. | 18 | |
| Ourebia ourebi (oribi) | 9 | 14.0 kg |
| Madoqua sp. | 10 | |
| Oreotragus oreotragus (klipspringer) | 1 | |
| Potamochoerus sp. | 5 | |
| Phacochoerus sp. | 3 | |
| also 7 Suidae indet. | ||
| Orycteropus afer (aardvark) | 3 | 40.0 kg |
| Hystrix sp. | 1 | |
| Lepus sp. | 2 | |
| Genetta sp. | 2 | |
| Mungos sp. | 1 | |
| also 35 Carnivora indet. | ||
| Mugilidae indet. | 40 | |
| Scombridae indet. | 10 | |
| also 15 Pisces indet. | ||