Clarke Joanne - The Archaeology of Western Sahara

For the people of Western Sahara

The authors are grateful to the Office of the President and the Ministry of Culture of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic for permission to conduct fieldwork in the Free Zone of Western Sahara, and for providing the logistical support which made these seasons of fieldwork possible. Special thanks are extended to Bey Hussein, Director of the Sahrawi National Museum, for his support for the Project and assistance in the field. We are grateful to the Polisario representatives in London for their help in organising travel to the field. Our particular thanks go to Bachir Mehdi Bhaua, whose tireless efforts in organising and coordinating the logistical aspects of the work ensured the smooth running of the field seasons. We would like to thank all the members of our Sahrawi support teams for their hard work and enthusiasm, the Polisario personnel at Rabuni, Tifariti, Bir Lahlou, Dugej, Mijek, Mheres and Zoug, and all the people of Western Sahara who have shown us so much hospitality. Polisario military personnel have provided vital guidance on safety issues in the field, as have Land Mine Action.

The work of the Western Sahara Project has been supported by finance from a number of sources, including the British Academy, the University of Edinburgh (through the Tweedie Exploration Fellowship), and Ophir Energy. The financial contributions of volunteers have been vital, and without this support a number of field seasons would not have gone ahead. Contributions to the expenses of individual specialists were also provided by the University of Cambridge, the University of Munich and the University of Cologne. Financial support for a round of radiocarbon dating was provided by the University of Rome La Sapienza.

The Western Sahara Project was initiated by Margaret Raffin, and without her none of this work would have taken place. Particular thanks are extended to Nick Drake (Kings College, London), Savino di Lernia, Hlne Jousse, Stefan Krpelin (University of Cologne), Mark Milburn and Toby Savage for their support to the Project during individual field seasons. Savino di Lernia and Hlne Jousse each sponsored a round of radiocarbon dating. John Crisp, Federica Crivellaro (University of Cambridge), Anne Maher (University of Southampton), Emma Markeiwicz, Matt Nicoll, Rachel Robinson, Alex Wasse and Vicky Winton contributed their time and expertise to the project free of charge during key field seasons.

Pierre Mein identified the small mammal remains, and the Natural History Museum in London identified the shells from the excavations.

Radiocarbon dating was carried out by the University of Paris RC Lab, which undertook the CO extraction from the bone bioapatite, and by the University of Arizona RC lab at Tucson which undertook the AMS dating on the CO obtained.

Illustrations for the book were provided by Sarah Lucas, Lucy Martin and Jeannette van der Post.

Fig. 1.1 Location and key features of Western Sahara

Fig. 2.1 Simplified map of the large-scale geology of Western Sahara

Fig. 2.2 Illustrative landscapes associated with the Tindouf Basin and Reguibat Massif

Fig. 2.3 Principal topographic features of the Northern Sector

Fig. 2.4 Landscapes of the Northern Sector

Fig. 2.5 Principal topographic features of the Southern Sector

Fig. 2.6 Landscapes of the Southern Sector

Fig. 2.7 Well-vegetated wadi and temporary wells dug into the sediments of the Wadi Tifariti (Northern Sector)

Fig. 2.8 Playa surface in the Northern Sector and carbonate crust at the fringe of the area of dunes in far southeast of the Southern Sector

Fig. 2.9 Savanna species that require more humid conditions than exist in Western Sahara today, as represented in the prehistoric rock art of the Northern Sector

Fig. 2.10 Distribution of environmental sites in the Northern Sector

Fig. 2.11 Carbonate deposits near sub-site N1-1 and N1 feature (N1-3/N1-4)

Fig. 2.12 Site N4

Fig. 2.13 Carbonate surface at site N11

Fig. 2.14 Carbonate mound at site N12

Fig. 2.15 Carbonate surfaces at site N24-2 and N24-1

Fig. 2.16 Carbonate surfaces at site N39

Fig. 2.17 Raised cemented fluvial gravels at Site N40 and view along palaeochannel deposits

Fig. 2.18 Carbonate cliffs at site N44

Fig. 2.19 Raised carbonate deposits at site N45

Fig. 2.20 Humic deposits in rock shelter at Irghraywa and view across plain to the north

Fig. 2.21 Locations of environmental sites visited/sampled in the Southern Sector

Fig. 2.22 Root casts at site S5 and ostrich eggshell fragment

Fig. 2.23 Fragmented carbonate crust and gypsum crystals at site S6

Fig. 2.24 View north from site S18 towards centre of depression and carbonate surface