Present and Ancient Numerals of Sheep and Goats in Oman: What is in the numbers?
Keywords:
sheep & goats, Dhofar, Archacological Excavations, Traditional Herdsmen, Ostcological Remains, Copper In Soil & Grass, Prehistoric TimesAbstract
In Oman, the numerals of sheep and goats in the present time reflect a clear disparity in both animals' populations numbers. The Agricultural Census 2018 stated that the livestock of Oman contains 2,302,000 goats and 605,000 sheep. The divergence between the two animals is attracting attention and notice through the unexpected and conspicuous population numbers. In addition, archaeological excavations in Oman and the United Arab Emirates indicated the same situation during prehistory.
This paper examines the discrepancy in the numbers of the sheep and goat populations in Dhofar region, southern Oman. There must be an explanation for this disproportion between goat and sheep in prehistoric and present times.
This is an attempt to find the compels and the conditions that characterize this discrepancy. It examines the environmental conditions in Dhofar for both animals and the preference of the traditional herdsmen in Dhofar over sheep and goat. Moreover, the paper examines the effect of copper in soil and grass on both animals and finally provides the archaeological record of the osteological remains of sheep and goat. The examination of these factors can possibly facilitate a reasonable analogy between the present and prehistoric situation.
References
Bokonyi, S. 1998. Animal husbandry, hunting and fishing in Ras Al- Junayz Areas. A basic of the human subsistence.
Archaeozoology of the Near East III.Ed. H. Buitenhuis, L. Bartosiewicz and A. M. Choyke. Publication 18, pp. 95-102. The Netherlands. (Nutrient Requirements of Domestic Animals Series 1981:6)
Bonacossi, D. M. 2002. Excavations at Khor Rori The 1997 and 1998 Campaigns. In Khor Rori Report 1 (ed.) Avanzini, A.,174 pp 29-52 Edizoni Plus Universita di Pisa.
Cleuziou, S. and Tosi, M. 2000 Ra’s al-Jinz and the Prehistoric Coastal Culture of the Jalan. Journal of Oman Studies, vol 11, pp.19- 73. Sultanate of Oman. Country Report on the State of Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) In the Sultanate of Oman. (https://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/CountryReports/Oman_E.pdf)
Dahl, G. and Hjort, A. 1976. Having Herds Studies in Social anthropology 2. University of Stockholm.
ElMahi. A. T. and Ibrahim, M. 2003. Two seasons of investigations Manal site in the Wadi Samayil area, Sultanate of Oman. Proceedings of the Seminar of Arabian Studies 177 vol. 31, pp. 77-98 Archaeopress Oxford.
Haenlein, G. F. W. 2007. About the evolution of goat and sheep milk Production. Small Ruminant Research Volume 68, Issues 1–2, March 2007, P: 3-6
Meadow, R. H. 1971. The Emergence of Civilization. Man, Culture and Society. H. L. Shapiro (ed.) pp. 112- 167. Oxford University Press Oxford.
Oman SoW Report 2020. Country Report on the State of Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) In the Sultanate of Oman 2020. Oman SoW Report – Translation from the Original Arabic.
Osman, N. I. E. D., Johnson, E. H., Al-Busaidi, R. M. and Suttle, N. F. 2003. The effects of breed, neonatal age and pregnancy on the plasma copper status of goats in Oman. Veterinary research Communications. 27, pp 219-229. Kluwer Academic Publishers the Netherlands.
Phillips, C. S. and Mosseri-Marlio, C. E. 2002. Sustaining Change: The emergence picture of the Neolithic to Iron Age subsistence economy at Kalba, Sharjah Emirate, UAE. Proceedings of the fifth international symposium on the archaeology of southwestern Asia and adjacent areas. (eds.) H. Buitenhuis, A. M. Choyke, M. Mashkour and A. H. Al-Shiyab. ARC-Publicaties 62. Pp 195- 209 Groningen, The Netherlands.
Metcalf, R. V. and Shervais, J. W. 2008. Suprasubduction-zone ophiolites: Is there really an ophiolite conundrum? (PDF). In Wright, J. E.; Shervais, J. W. (eds.). O phiolites, Arcs, and Batholiths: A Tribute to Cliff Hopson. Geological Society of America, Special Paper. Geological Society of America. Vol. 438. pp. 191– 222. doi:10.1130/2008.2438(07).
Salvagno, L. and Albarella, U. 2017. A morphometric system to distinguish sheep and goat postcranial bones. Published: June 8, 2017 (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178543 Schreurs, J. and Millson, J. 2013. Ophiolites a natural wonder (PDF). Retrieved 10 October 2013.
Swift, J. 1973. Disaster and Sahelian Nomad Economy. Drought In Africa. E. Dalby and E. Church (eds.). Center for African Studies. University of London.
Zarins, J. 2001.Dhofar the land of Incense. (Eds.) M.Ibrahim, A.T. ElMahi and J. Own.
