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A case study of an archaeological section in the pre-Islamic town of Sumhuram (third century bc–fifth century ad; Dhofar, S Oman) is presented. Sedimentological and palynological data have been integrated with the aim of finding signals of natural processes within an urban context. Two main types of deposits alternate in the section: anthropogenic (AD) and waterlain (WD). The presence of laminated sediments within the WD deposits, suggesting short-term street flooding from heavy rainfall, encouraged the development of a targeted palynological sampling strategy. The results of the pollen analysis in these laminated sediments, e.g. high pollen concentrations (particularly of wet environment plants), clumped pollen grains, long distance pollen grains, and overall good state of preservation, suggest a stronger monsoonal influence than the present and high precipitation in S Oman between 204 bc and ad 130. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological excavations of the ancient city of Sumhuram (2nd century BC- 5th century AD), a port along the frankincense trade route in Dhofar, Southern Oman, offered the chance to gain new insights into the diet of the inhabitants. In spite of the mainly sandy nature of the sediments in the site, which does not favour good preservation of plant materials, pollen analyses and sporadic findings of starch grains, seeds and fruits allowed evidence of food plants to be gathered. Pollen and starch grains of cereals at Sumhuram attested to the consumption of major crops, like wheat and barley, as well as minor crops, such as the millets. Cereal pollen from a pit in the city helped strengthen the archaeological interpretation of this structure as foodstuff storage. Both date palm pollen and stones recovered in two rooms testified to the use of this plant, largely diffused in Arabia. Even though the provenance of these foodstuffs remains dubious - they could have been locally cultivated/gathered or imported from other territories - the outcome of our Modern Analogues study in wadi estuaries enabled us to attribute varying origins to pollen sources in the past record. • Pollen was instrumental in gaining insights into food plant use in pre-Islamic Oman. • Present vegetation and pollen rain studies supported interpretation of past records. • Cereal pollen in a pit confirmed the archaeological hypothesis of foodstuff storage. • Exploitation of the date palm is attested by both pollen and charred stones. • Declining woody plant pollen reflects shrubland clearing rather than aridification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]