Modelling the Connectivity of Socioeconomic Networks of Copper Production in Ancient Northern Oman

Summary

With over 5000 years of production history, Oman was a major ancient source of copper, participating in a trade network that supplied a large part of the ancient world, the extent of which has yet to be fully mapped. As part of the Archaeological Water Histories of Oman (ArWHO) Project, we have been working since 2012 in the Ad-Dhahirah Governorate of Oman to clarify the structure of ancient copper production networks. Methodologically, our investigations employ satellite imagery analysis to map copper resources, ground-truthing of resulting prospectivity maps, systematic and targeted archaeological survey, and x-ray fluorescence of slags and ores. While we are broadly concerned with understanding raw material exploitation, production, and circulation, this paper focuses on modelling Iron Age and Islamic Period networks of production. Sites which demonstrate shared production technologies are used as proxies for social network connectivity. We combine pXRF-derived geochemical analyses of copper slag with formal social network analytical methods (SNA). We use pXRF data to determine technological strategies employed by metal producing communities. We then compare geochemical data between sites to elucidate dynamics of inter-site relations. Combining site-centered data with regional survey data enables multi-scalar analysis that provides a novel view of ancient metal producing societies.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 22342