The transition from hunting and gathering to herding and pastoralism in Neolithic in Jubbah, Northwest of Saudi Arabia: An examination of the nature of transformations in human-environment inter-relations and early formation of sedentism

Alhuraish, A. A. (2026) The transition from hunting and gathering to herding and pastoralism in Neolithic in Jubbah, Northwest of Saudi Arabia: An examination of the nature of transformations in human-environment inter-relations and early formation of sedentism. PhD thesis, University of Reading. doi: 10.48683/1926.00130142

Abstract/Summary

Compared with neighbouring regions in the Near East, the Arabian Peninsula has long remained underexplored, with limited archaeological studies on the Neolithic. Recent research on the Neolithic, however, has expanded particularly in Saudi Arabia, the largest country in the Peninsula. A central debate concerns whether Neolithic development in the Peninsula developed locally, or whether introduced through external influences from the Levant. This research examines the nature of transformations in human-environment inter-relations and the early formation of sedentism and characterisation of the Neolithic in the Jubbah region strategically located in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula with connections to the Levant, Egypt and Mesopotamia. Palaeolakes provided vital ecological niches that sustained human occupation particularly during the Humid Holocene Period (c.8000-4000 BCE). Climate change within this broader period, however, posed challenges that required adaptation strategies and changes in human-environment interactions. Three case studies from Jubbah region include Jebal Oraf2, Jebal Qattar and Jebal Umm Sanman are selected to examine these dynamics during the Early-Middle Holocene. To achieve this, an integrated framework was employed, combining Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR), micromorphology, zooarchaeology, lithic analysis, and Portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF), through original fieldwork and ethnographic perspectives, and interpreted with a new approach informed by a Polycentric Evolution Perspective. Micromorphological analysis suggests diverse on-site activities, with phytoliths that indicate plant exploitation, while dung-derived spherulites and combustion features reflect practices of animal management and fuel use. Zooarchaeological evidence suggests hunting alongside herding. pXRF results suggest that chert may have formed by diagenetic processes. Drawing on new approaches, this study suggests that parallels in the Neolithic and later periods may reflect possible connections with Egypt. Considered within a long-term perspective, the case studies demonstrate how archaeological research can inform on sustainability by providing long term perspectives into human adaptation, resource use, and resilience in the face of climate change.

Item Type	Thesis (PhD)
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/130142
Identification Number/DOI	10.48683/1926.00130142
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Archaeology
Date on Title Page	October 2025
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