Studies on the influence of Palmyrene and their cultural aspects in the Tylos culture, Bahrain

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H02725
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 海外学術
• Research Field: Archaeology
• Research Institution: Kashihara Archaeological Institute , Nara prefecture
• Principal Investigator: Saito Kiyohide 奈良県立橿原考古学研究所, その他部局等, 特別職非常勤職員 (80250372)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 吉村 和昭 奈良県立橿原考古学研究所, 企画学芸部学芸課, 課長 (10250375)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: バハレーン / ティロス / 古墳 / パルミラ / 人骨 / 同位体分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Through the excavation of the Makaba Mounded Tomb No. 1, which was built in the Tlyos culture that flourished in Bahrain from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD, this study has explored the traces of East-West trade, especially the traces of Palmyra caravans who were engaged in trade with India from their trading base in Bahrain Tlyos. The archaeological research was conducted in the burial mound. The archaeological excavation revealed similar elements in the ancillary facilities of the burial site and in the items of the secondary burial goods. Isotope analysis of the human remains revealed that all four of the bones analyzed were likely to have been raised in southern Syria and southern Turkey as children.

Free Research Field

考古学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来の考古学において交易に焦点を当てた場合には、出土遺物を通してその実態を明らかにしようとしていたが、本研究では従来の考古学的手法に加え、出土した人骨の理化学的分析によって埋葬された遺体（人骨）の幼少期の食物摂取状況を復元し、彼（彼女）が生育した地域を解くことが出来るようになったことから、遺物による点的な交易から交易に携わった人の背景をも探れるようになった学術意義は大きい。また現状では政情的に安定を見ない中東社会ではあるが、この地域の歴史を通して、新たな中東の一面を紹介する社会的意義も大きい。