Catchment area analysis of Umm an-Nar rectilinear architecture sites in northern central Oman
Keywords:
settlement pattern, multi-sited communities, site catchment analysis, rectilinear architechture, Umm an-NarAbstract
Umm an-Nar period sites (2700–2000 BC) in south-eastern Arabia comprise varying combinations of collective tombs, monumental towers, and rectilinear architecture. While towers and tombs have long dominated discussions of settlement organization, rectilinear architecture has received comparatively less attention. This paper addresses this imbalance by examining the spatial organization and chronological distribution of rectilinear architecture, with particular focus on northern central Oman, and reassessing its role within broader Umm an-Nar settlement systems. Using Least-Cost Site Catchment (LCSC) analyses, the study demonstrates substantial overlaps between the catchment areas of sites with rectilinear architecture, as well as between such sites and tower sites. These overlaps suggest shared resource zones and interconnected patterns of movement, rather than isolated or autonomous villages. Chronological evidence, although still limited, indicates that individual sites were typically occupied for only a short time. These findings support an understanding of Umm an-Nar communities as multi-sited, with rectilinear buildings representing a selective, context-dependent architectural and social strategy.
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