Decoding Late Iron Age tomb reuse patterns in Sharqiyyah North, Oman

Poster presented at the 57th Seminar for Arabian Studies. The practice of reusing tombs is a prevalent phenomenon observed throughout the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and even into the Sasanian period in south-eastern Arabia. Reuse, particularly during the Late Iron Age, has been documented across various excavated tombs all over the region, revealing artefacts dating to the late 1st millennium BCE and early 1st millennium CE. Similarly, evidence of tomb reutilization during the LIA period is widespread and conspicuous in central Oman. This poster presents findings from two survey projects: the Al-Mudhaybi Regional Survey (2018-2022) and the ongoing Jebel Madar Survey (since 2024) in the Sharqiyyah North (central Oman). In addition to providing a comprehensive analysis of evidence, the poster aims to explore the mechanisms ("the how"), the agents involved ("the who"), and the underlying reasons ("the why") behind this widespread phenomenon in the region. Thus, the goal is to foster a deeper comprehension of the societal dynamics and cultural practices surrounding tomb reuse in south-eastern Arabia during the Late Iron Age, shedding new light on the region's archaeological landscape.