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, 41° 54' 37" E
Coordinate 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".

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".

Methods
Life forms: carnivores,rodents,ungulates,other large mammals,other small mammals,fishes

Sampling methods: quarry,screenwash

Sample size: 2163 specimens

Years: 2017 - 2019

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 number: 3997

Contributor: Benjamin Carter

Enterer: Benjamin Carter

Created: 2022-10-06 16:28:26

Modified: 2022-10-06 06:56:09

Abundance distribution
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: 0.7770
Shannon's H: 1.9887
Good's u: 0.9982
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts.
Register
Bos taurus516337 kg
or Bos indicus
Ovis aries32741 kg
Capra aegagrus hircus80522 kg browser-grazer
"Capra hircus"
Camelus sp.77
Equus africanus asinus56287 kg
"Equus asinus"
Equus ferus caballus45422 kg
"Equus caballus"; also 69 Equus sp.
Canis lupus familiaris943 kg carnivore
"Canis familiaris"
Felis catus11
Kobus sp.12
Oryx sp.20
Tragelaphus sp.36
Litocranius walleri1131 kg
Redunca sp.47
Nanger sp.35
Sylvicapra grimmia113 kg browser-grazer
Dorcatragus megalotis50
Gazella sp.18
Ourebia ourebi914 kg grazer-browser
Madoqua sp.10
Oreotragus oreotragus1 browser-grazer
Potamochoerus sp.5
Phacochoerus sp.3
also 7 Suidae indet.
Orycteropus afer340 kg insectivore
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.