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Holger Hitgen

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Jérémie Schiettecatte

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique / French National Centre for Scientific Research

Université Lyon

Michael Harrower

Johns Hopkins University

University of New England - Australia

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique / French National Centre for Scientific Research

Simona Scaruffi

Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II"

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique / French National Centre for Scientific Research

Davtian Gourguène

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique / French National Centre for Scientific Research

Tara Steimer-Herbet

Université de Genève

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Papers by Holger Hitgen

Reuse of tombs or cultural continuity? The case of tower-tombs in Shabwa governorate (Yemen)

During a preventive archaeological survey along the Yemen LNG pipeline route, a cemetery was disc... more During a preventive archaeological survey along the Yemen LNG pipeline route, a cemetery was discovered, and was at first dated to the Bronze Age period. After excavation, these tombs were not clearly datable to this period, as typical Iron Age material was discovered inside them. The 14C dating of three typologically similar tombs reveals two distinct occupation phases. The first one starts from the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, and the second one from the first half of the 1st millennium BC. What can be concluded? Are we facing a reuse of ancient tombs by later populations, or do we have enough data to think that there was a cultural/technical continuity in building tower-tombs?

From Safer to Balhaf: rescue excavations along the Yemen LNG pipeline route

The Centre Francais d'Archeologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa (CEFAS) and the Deutsches ... more The Centre Francais d'Archeologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa (CEFAS) and the Deutsches Archaologisches Institut (DAI) in Sana'a, in cooperation with the Yemeni General Organization of Antiquities and Museums (GOAM), carried out a preventive archaeological survey along the route of a projected pipeline that will transfer the natural gas from Safer deposits (Governorate of Marib) to the future Yemen LNG facilities in the village of Balhaf (Governorate of Shabwa). This survey took place along the route in order to identify all archaeological sites in danger of partial or total destruction due to the future construction of the pipeline. Archaeological remains are from very different time periods, which stretch from the earliest prehistoric times to recent Islamic occupations. A total of 171 archaeological sites have been individualized and documented by preliminary plan drawing, photography, and material sampling. The use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) enabled a ...

2010 - Reuse of tombs or cultural continuity? The case of tower-tombs in Shabwa governorate (Yemen)

by Remy Crassard and Holger Hitgen

During a preventive archaeological survey along the Yemen LNG pipeline route, a cemetery was disc... more

Vers une archéologie préventive au Yémen (2006)

by Holger Hitgen, Lamya Khalidi, and Mounir Arbach

Chercheuse associée, CEFAS ISCIPLINE SCIENTIFIQUE récente, partie intégrante de l'archéologie, l'... more Chercheuse associée, CEFAS ISCIPLINE SCIENTIFIQUE récente, partie intégrante de l'archéologie, l'archéologie préventive intervient lorsqu'une opération d'aménagement peut porter atteinte à des éléments du patrimoine. C'est pourquoi les aménageurs intègrent dans leur calendrier le temps de détection, de fouille, d'étude, voire d'éventuelle sauvegarde des vestiges mis au jour 1 ».

Papers from the thirty-first meeting of the Seminar for Arabian Studies held in Oxford, 17-19 July 1997 || The 1997 excavations of the German Institute of Archaeology at the cemetery of Awām in Marib

Vers une archéologie préventive au Yémen

Preventive archaeology, rescue archaeological operations and actions for heritage protection have... more Preventive archaeology, rescue archaeological operations and actions for heritage protection have been increased in Yemen these last decades. Local authorities have quickly realized the danger of modern town and country planning on the preservation of the scientific knowledge of the past. Otherwise, lootings done against the current law on the protection of antiquities are increasing in parallel with the growing interest of art dealers.This paper try to place the emergency scientific actions within the more traditional archaeological research, in comparison with the situation observed in France. The frame of the Yemeni law is also analysed in order to determine its value and its application. Recent operations are then presented, in the perspective of a more organised development of the preventive archaeological researches in Yemen.

by Thomas Scholten, Dana Pietsch, and Holger Hitgen

Holocene

The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in... more The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in the heritage of mankind as the early cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia or the Indus Valley. The beginning of the widely known Sabaean culture dates back to the end of the second millennium bc. Whereas, undoubtedly, its wealth came mainly from the trade along the Incense Road, the backbone of its economy was irrigated agriculture. Since agriculture is based on soil and water resources and, hence, land availability, the buried soils and sediments of the area surrounding the Ma’rib Oasis have been investigated, both as an archive of Holocene soil development in Pre-Sabaean times and as ‘natural treasures’, as, for example, ores or alabaster are defined. The natural buried Holocene soils around Ma’rib are rich in phosphate, organic material and volcanic ashes. In a few places they demonstrate cultivation before the Great Dam of Ma’rib was built in the first millennium bc. Most important are th...

Holocene soils and sediments around Ma’rib Oasis, Yemen: Further Sabaean treasures?

by Holger Hitgen, Thomas Scholten, and Iris Gerlach

Holocene, 2010

The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in... more The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in the heritage of mankind as the early cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia or the Indus Valley. The beginning of the widely known Sabaean culture dates back to the end of the second millennium BC. Whereas, undoubtedly, its wealth came mainly from the trade along the

Holocene soils and sediments around Ma’rib Oasis, Yemen: Further Sabaean treasures

by Holger Hitgen, Iris Gerlach, and Thomas Scholten

Holocene, 2010

The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in... more The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in the heritage of mankind as the early cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia or the Indus Valley. The beginning of the widely known Sabaean culture dates back to the end of the second millennium BC. Whereas, undoubtedly, its wealth came mainly from the trade along the

2010 - Reuse of tombs or cultural continuity? The case of tower-tombs in Shabwa governorate (Yemen)

by Jérémie Schiettecatte and Holger Hitgen

Death and Burial in Arabia and Beyond. Multidisciplinary perspectives, 2010

During a preventive archaeological survey along the Yemen LNG pipeline route, a cemetery was disc... more During a preventive archaeological survey along the Yemen LNG pipeline route, a cemetery was discovered, and was at first dated to the Bronze Age period. After excavation, these tombs were not clearly datable to this period, as typical Iron Age material was discovered inside them. The 14C dating of three typologically similar tombs reveals two distinct occupation phases. The first one starts from the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, and the second one from the first half of the 1st millennium BC. What can be concluded? Are we facing a reuse of ancient tombs by later populations, or do we have enough data to think that there was a cultural/technical continuity in building tower-tombs?

From Safer to Balhaf: rescue excavations along the Yemen LNG pipeline route

by Remy Crassard and Holger Hitgen

The Centre Français d'Archéologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa (CEFAS) and the Deutsches Arch... more The Centre Français d'Archéologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa (CEFAS) and the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (DAI) in Sana'a, in cooperation with the Yemeni General Organization of Antiquities and Museums (GOAM), carried out a preventive archaeological survey along the route of a projected pipeline that will transfer the natural gas from Сāfer deposits (Governorate of Mārib) to the future Yemen LNG facilities in the village of BālΉāf (Governorate of Shabwa). This survey took place along the route in order to identify all archaeological sites in danger of partial or total destruction due to the future construction of the pipeline. Archaeological remains are from very different time periods, which stretch from the earliest prehistoric times to recent Islamic occupations. A total of 171 archaeological sites have been individualized and documented by preliminary plan drawing, photography, and material sampling. The use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) enabled a precise localization of the archaeological occupations along the studied area. This paper focuses on the first results of the excavations realized at two major sites: the previously unknown ancient Hadramitic settlement of Darbas at Wādī Jirdān (main occupation during the second half of the first millennium BC), and a widespread sample of "Bronze Age" funerary structures on the western jawl.

Holocene soils and sediments around Ma’rib Oasis, Yemen: Further Sabaean treasures

by Thomas Scholten, Holger Hitgen, and Iris Gerlach

Holocene, 2010

The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in... more The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in the heritage of mankind as the early cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia or the Indus Valley. The beginning of the widely known Sabaean culture dates back to the end of the second millennium BC. Whereas, undoubtedly, its wealth came mainly from the trade along the

Books by Holger Hitgen

Rescue Excavation along the Yemen LNG Pipeline from Marib to Balhaf

by Holger Hitgen and Remy Crassard

The publication "Rescue Excavation along the Yemen LNG Pipeline from Marib to Balhaf" is dedicate... more The publication "Rescue Excavation along the Yemen LNG Pipeline from Marib to Balhaf" is dedicated to the presentation of the main results of two rescue excavations that the Deutsche Archäologische Institut in Sana'a (DAI) and the Centre Français d'Archéologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa (CEFAS) carried out in 2006. The work was the result of the initiative of the Yemen LNG Company, which was building a gas pipeline from the mineral oil fields in Marib (Block 18) to the new natural gas liquefaction plant and port in Balhaf, on the coast of the governorate of Shabwah.

Reuse of tombs or cultural continuity? The case of tower-tombs in Shabwa governorate (Yemen)

During a preventive archaeological survey along the Yemen LNG pipeline route, a cemetery was disc... more During a preventive archaeological survey along the Yemen LNG pipeline route, a cemetery was discovered, and was at first dated to the Bronze Age period. After excavation, these tombs were not clearly datable to this period, as typical Iron Age material was discovered inside them. The 14C dating of three typologically similar tombs reveals two distinct occupation phases. The first one starts from the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, and the second one from the first half of the 1st millennium BC. What can be concluded? Are we facing a reuse of ancient tombs by later populations, or do we have enough data to think that there was a cultural/technical continuity in building tower-tombs?

From Safer to Balhaf: rescue excavations along the Yemen LNG pipeline route

The Centre Francais d'Archeologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa (CEFAS) and the Deutsches ... more The Centre Francais d'Archeologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa (CEFAS) and the Deutsches Archaologisches Institut (DAI) in Sana'a, in cooperation with the Yemeni General Organization of Antiquities and Museums (GOAM), carried out a preventive archaeological survey along the route of a projected pipeline that will transfer the natural gas from Safer deposits (Governorate of Marib) to the future Yemen LNG facilities in the village of Balhaf (Governorate of Shabwa). This survey took place along the route in order to identify all archaeological sites in danger of partial or total destruction due to the future construction of the pipeline. Archaeological remains are from very different time periods, which stretch from the earliest prehistoric times to recent Islamic occupations. A total of 171 archaeological sites have been individualized and documented by preliminary plan drawing, photography, and material sampling. The use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) enabled a ...

2010 - Reuse of tombs or cultural continuity? The case of tower-tombs in Shabwa governorate (Yemen)

by Remy Crassard and Holger Hitgen

During a preventive archaeological survey along the Yemen LNG pipeline route, a cemetery was disc... more

Vers une archéologie préventive au Yémen (2006)

by Holger Hitgen, Lamya Khalidi, and Mounir Arbach

Chercheuse associée, CEFAS ISCIPLINE SCIENTIFIQUE récente, partie intégrante de l'archéologie, l'... more Chercheuse associée, CEFAS ISCIPLINE SCIENTIFIQUE récente, partie intégrante de l'archéologie, l'archéologie préventive intervient lorsqu'une opération d'aménagement peut porter atteinte à des éléments du patrimoine. C'est pourquoi les aménageurs intègrent dans leur calendrier le temps de détection, de fouille, d'étude, voire d'éventuelle sauvegarde des vestiges mis au jour 1 ».

Papers from the thirty-first meeting of the Seminar for Arabian Studies held in Oxford, 17-19 July 1997 || The 1997 excavations of the German Institute of Archaeology at the cemetery of Awām in Marib

Vers une archéologie préventive au Yémen

Preventive archaeology, rescue archaeological operations and actions for heritage protection have... more Preventive archaeology, rescue archaeological operations and actions for heritage protection have been increased in Yemen these last decades. Local authorities have quickly realized the danger of modern town and country planning on the preservation of the scientific knowledge of the past. Otherwise, lootings done against the current law on the protection of antiquities are increasing in parallel with the growing interest of art dealers.This paper try to place the emergency scientific actions within the more traditional archaeological research, in comparison with the situation observed in France. The frame of the Yemeni law is also analysed in order to determine its value and its application. Recent operations are then presented, in the perspective of a more organised development of the preventive archaeological researches in Yemen.

by Thomas Scholten, Dana Pietsch, and Holger Hitgen

Holocene

The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in... more The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in the heritage of mankind as the early cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia or the Indus Valley. The beginning of the widely known Sabaean culture dates back to the end of the second millennium bc. Whereas, undoubtedly, its wealth came mainly from the trade along the Incense Road, the backbone of its economy was irrigated agriculture. Since agriculture is based on soil and water resources and, hence, land availability, the buried soils and sediments of the area surrounding the Ma’rib Oasis have been investigated, both as an archive of Holocene soil development in Pre-Sabaean times and as ‘natural treasures’, as, for example, ores or alabaster are defined. The natural buried Holocene soils around Ma’rib are rich in phosphate, organic material and volcanic ashes. In a few places they demonstrate cultivation before the Great Dam of Ma’rib was built in the first millennium bc. Most important are th...

Holocene soils and sediments around Ma’rib Oasis, Yemen: Further Sabaean treasures?

by Holger Hitgen, Thomas Scholten, and Iris Gerlach

Holocene, 2010

The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in... more The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in the heritage of mankind as the early cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia or the Indus Valley. The beginning of the widely known Sabaean culture dates back to the end of the second millennium BC. Whereas, undoubtedly, its wealth came mainly from the trade along the

Holocene soils and sediments around Ma’rib Oasis, Yemen: Further Sabaean treasures

by Holger Hitgen, Iris Gerlach, and Thomas Scholten

Holocene, 2010

The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in... more The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in the heritage of mankind as the early cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia or the Indus Valley. The beginning of the widely known Sabaean culture dates back to the end of the second millennium BC. Whereas, undoubtedly, its wealth came mainly from the trade along the

2010 - Reuse of tombs or cultural continuity? The case of tower-tombs in Shabwa governorate (Yemen)

by Jérémie Schiettecatte and Holger Hitgen

Death and Burial in Arabia and Beyond. Multidisciplinary perspectives, 2010

During a preventive archaeological survey along the Yemen LNG pipeline route, a cemetery was disc... more During a preventive archaeological survey along the Yemen LNG pipeline route, a cemetery was discovered, and was at first dated to the Bronze Age period. After excavation, these tombs were not clearly datable to this period, as typical Iron Age material was discovered inside them. The 14C dating of three typologically similar tombs reveals two distinct occupation phases. The first one starts from the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, and the second one from the first half of the 1st millennium BC. What can be concluded? Are we facing a reuse of ancient tombs by later populations, or do we have enough data to think that there was a cultural/technical continuity in building tower-tombs?

From Safer to Balhaf: rescue excavations along the Yemen LNG pipeline route

by Remy Crassard and Holger Hitgen

The Centre Français d'Archéologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa (CEFAS) and the Deutsches Arch... more The Centre Français d'Archéologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa (CEFAS) and the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (DAI) in Sana'a, in cooperation with the Yemeni General Organization of Antiquities and Museums (GOAM), carried out a preventive archaeological survey along the route of a projected pipeline that will transfer the natural gas from Сāfer deposits (Governorate of Mārib) to the future Yemen LNG facilities in the village of BālΉāf (Governorate of Shabwa). This survey took place along the route in order to identify all archaeological sites in danger of partial or total destruction due to the future construction of the pipeline. Archaeological remains are from very different time periods, which stretch from the earliest prehistoric times to recent Islamic occupations. A total of 171 archaeological sites have been individualized and documented by preliminary plan drawing, photography, and material sampling. The use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) enabled a precise localization of the archaeological occupations along the studied area. This paper focuses on the first results of the excavations realized at two major sites: the previously unknown ancient Hadramitic settlement of Darbas at Wādī Jirdān (main occupation during the second half of the first millennium BC), and a widespread sample of "Bronze Age" funerary structures on the western jawl.

Holocene soils and sediments around Ma’rib Oasis, Yemen: Further Sabaean treasures

by Thomas Scholten, Holger Hitgen, and Iris Gerlach

Holocene, 2010

The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in... more The ancient cultures of Southern Arabia are increasingly recognised as playing as major a role in the heritage of mankind as the early cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia or the Indus Valley. The beginning of the widely known Sabaean culture dates back to the end of the second millennium BC. Whereas, undoubtedly, its wealth came mainly from the trade along the

Rescue Excavation along the Yemen LNG Pipeline from Marib to Balhaf

by Holger Hitgen and Remy Crassard

The publication "Rescue Excavation along the Yemen LNG Pipeline from Marib to Balhaf" is dedicate... more The publication "Rescue Excavation along the Yemen LNG Pipeline from Marib to Balhaf" is dedicated to the presentation of the main results of two rescue excavations that the Deutsche Archäologische Institut in Sana'a (DAI) and the Centre Français d'Archéologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa (CEFAS) carried out in 2006. The work was the result of the initiative of the Yemen LNG Company, which was building a gas pipeline from the mineral oil fields in Marib (Block 18) to the new natural gas liquefaction plant and port in Balhaf, on the coast of the governorate of Shabwah.