Michel Mouton

Jérémie Schiettecatte

Pierre Siméon

Laetitia Munduteguy

Archaeologists

1/ Preamble

The second season of the Saudi-French mission in al-Yam ma was carried out from November 11 to December 18, 2012, under the supervision of Jérémie Schiettecatte (CNRS, Ivry sur Seine) & Abd al-Az z al-Ghazz (King Saud University, Riyadh).

Team

Support

The Saudi-French Mission beneited from the inancial and technical support from:

• Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, Riyadh

2/ Geographic and historical settings

Al-Kharj area is one of the major oases of the Najd, in the very heart of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Fig. 1). This oasis owes its fertility to its speciic geographic context: it is nested at the conluence of several wadis and beneits from one of the largest drainage basin in Arabia. Moreover, artesian wells provided water down to a recent time. They are now empty, due to active pumping of groundwater. These environmental conditions made this area one of the most attractive regions of Central Arabia for settled communities. As it is one of the rare fertile areas in Central Arabia, the region of al-Kharj appears as an obvious stopping point and as a main crossroad on the commercial roads that linked Yemen and the ij z to the Gulf and Mesopotamia.

Geographic and physiographic settings

The area of al-Kharj, in the eastern part of the Najd in East-Central Saudi Arabia, lies between latitude 23.8° and 24.4° N. and longitude 46.9° and 48° E. It is characterized by a variety of geological features that have attracted human populations since prehistoric times [START_REF] Vaslet | Geologic Map of the Ar Riy Quadrangle, Sheet 24 I[END_REF]. Today it shelters one of the main cities in the Riyadh area, 70 km southwest of the capital.

A succession of northwest-trending cuestas of Late Jurassic to Cretaceous formations, with southwest-facing scarps, marks the northern part of the Riyadh area. Further south, the scarps are oriented towards the southwest. These are:

-Jabal uwayq, bordering al-Kharj area to the west; it crosses Central Arabia from north to south in a crescent-shaped arc; -Jabal al-Jubayl, which bounds the city of Riyadh to the east; -Jabal al-Uruma, further east, that runs parallel to the Jabal al-Jubayl. At al-Kharj the north-south scarps are cut by the convergence of the Central Arabian graben system composed of the Nis , Awsa , Bu ayj , Ruf and Mughara grabens. Fluvial structures in the region run from the uwayq escarpment across the uwayq plateau in a generally west-east course. Towards the centre of al-Kharj area, the wadi courses follow the graben structures, such as W d Nis and W d as-Sahb . Southeast of Riyadh, a series of parallel wadis drain southward into W d as-Sahb and have brought considerable amounts of luvial deposits into the Kharj cluse. Over the past millennia, the west-east axis of the dip from the ij z to the Central Arabian shield has caused the emergence of subsurface waters in the form of springs and marshes in the Riyadh/Kharj area. The rupture of the Arabian shield by the tectonics that created the Central Arabian graben system has activated a series of natural artesian springs in the area. In addition, chemical dissolution of limestone by groundwater led to the formation of up to 150-metre-deep karst sinkholes south of al-Kharj.

This speciic geomorphological coniguration around al-Kharj led to the convergence of subterranean and surface waters, to the activation of artesian springs and to the formation of karst sinkholes, which provided important perennial water sources. These features have been decisive in the sedentary occupation of this area.

Historical setting

The favourable environment made this oasis one of the main actors of the history of Arabian Peninsula. Many preislamic and Islamic sources mention the region and its main populated places: Yam ma, Jaww, al-Kharj.

According to the Arabic tradition, al-Yam ma was the centre of the kingdom of Tasim and Jadis. This tradition also mentions that this kingdom disappeared in the early 5th century, when the imyarite king Hasan Tubba (Hass n Yuha min, son of Ab karib As ad) took control of the area and entrusted it to the tribe of Kinda. This event could be echoed by the South-Arabic inscription Ry 509 found in W d Ma sal (Najd).

It was probably at that time that the Ban Hanifa settled in this region. This tribe went down in history with the emergence within it of the so-called False-Prophet Musaylima. Contemporary with Prophet Mu ammad, Musaylima federated the tribes from the Najd. Standing in the way of the irst Muslim community, they were inally defeated in the battle of Aqraba (633). The area fell into the hands of the Madina administration.

During the reign of the irst Umayyad caliph, Mu awiya (661-680), thousands of families were brought from Syria to al-Yam ma so as to maintain farming areas. The area progressively became depopulated at the beginning of the Abbasid period (750-869) so that when the leeing army of the Ban al-Ukhaydir entered al-Yam ma, they found a region deprived of a governor. This tribe controlled the region for two centuries. From the 12th to the 15th century AD, the area is seldom mentioned and it is likely that it was depopulated.

3/ Historiography of the exploration of al-Kharj area

Writing of his ventures into Central Arabia in 1917-1918, H. St J. Philby concluded his account by these words:

'I trust that I have said enough to show that there is much in Southern Najd to encourage further investigation, and to show that in Kharj and the Alaj, in distant Jafura, in Wubar, and possibly other buried cities of the southern sands, there lies open a fruitful ield for the archaeologist of the future.' (Philby 1920: 185). These promising words should have been all the more inviting since this area is a crossroad between the Arabian Gulf, the Hij z and Yemen, and is therefore crucial for the understanding of circulation and contacts within the Arabian Peninsula. In spite of this, archaeological remains in Central Arabia have rarely been particularly noticed. In 1945, Col. G. de Gaury reported the presence of tumulus ields (De Gaury 1945). A few years later, Philby completed the description of the oases of al-Al j and W d Daw sir [START_REF] Philby | Two notes from Central Arabia[END_REF]. In 1978, a comprehensive archaeological survey of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was carried out in Central Arabia and identiied sixteen sites in the oasis of al-Kharj alone [START_REF] Zarins | A preliminary report of an excavation at Hazem Agila in al-Kharj oasis / central region of Saudi Arabia[END_REF], conirming the potential of the area. Consequently, in the late 1980s and in the 2000s, A. al-Ghazzi initiated excavations at several sites in the oasis (al-Ghazzi 1996;[START_REF] Al-Ghazzi | Aw n fu riyya min mawqa azm Aq la (mu fa at al-ar / Man aqat al-Riy ) [Pottery of the site of azm Aq la (al-Kharj Gouvernorate / Riyadh Province)[END_REF][START_REF] Studer | Preliminary Report on Faunal Remains[END_REF]2011a;2011b). 1917-18 -Travel of Philby in the Najd in 1917-18 ; two detailed accounts have been published: Philby H. St J. B., 1919. Southern Nejd. Journey to Kharj, Alaj, Sulaiyyil and W d Dawasir in 1918, Cairo, The Arab Bureau. Philby H. St J. B., 1920. "Southern Najd", The Geographical Journal, vol. 55 no. 3 (Mar. 1920), p. 161-185. 1940

4/ Present issues for a study of al-Kharj area

By its geographic, historical and archaeological context, this oasis offers many opportunities for the study of the peopling and of the settlement process in central Arabia, from Prehistory down to the mediaeval period.

Prehistory

A debate now exists about trying to understand where the Arabian Neolithic comes from: Levantine inluence or local developments from autochthonous populations? Recent palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic studies revealed a possible inluence of the wet phases in the development of a production economy. These studies, combined with the lithics analysis, help deining better and better the Neolithic of Arabia. Beyond this period, understanding the dispersals of the irst Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH) in Arabia during Paleolithic is one of the main concern for the current Prehistoric researches in the Peninsula.

Bronze Age

Several necropolises showing hundreds of dry-stone turret graves or tumuli have been identiied in this area. The main issues are the date of their building, and the time span of their use. In Yemen, these tombs delivered artefacts from the 3rd and 1st millennium BC. Is this indicative of long lasting funerary practices, or of the reuse of these tombs far later on? Furthermore, in western and southern Arabia, these tombs were collective and are generally seen as nomad tombs; on the opposite, on the shore of the Persian Gulf (Bahrayn, Dharan area), they contained only a single body and were burials for sedentary people. Al-Kharj area is the buffer area between these two cultural spheres; the study of the burial practices in the area could be indicative of the very nature of people (origin, way of living).

Iron Age and turn of the Christian era

One of our main concerns is to ascribe a period of time to the sedentarization process in al-Kharj area. Has this process begun right from the 3rd millennium BC, as it can be observed in the Oman Peninsula (Hait / Umm an-Nar periods) or in Bahrayn area (Dilmun period)? Has it begun later on, at the end of the 2nd millennium BC, as in the Yemeni lowlands? Or are we to observe in al-Kharj area an alternate and speciic model? Is the sedentarization process linked to the domestication of palm-tree, as in the Oman Peninsula? Is this model varying according to other criteria such as caravan trade?

A second issue is the very nature of the goods exchanged in the Arabian Peninsula. At the crossroads of the caravan tracks between frankincense-bearing kingdoms (in Yemen), the Oman Peninsula, the Gulf region and Mesopotamia, this area should throw a new light on these commercial activities.

A third issue concerns the 3rd-2nd centuries BC, a transitional period in the Arabian Peninsula. New populations appeared in historical sources and settled in the Oman peninsula (e.g. Mleiha), in South Arabia (penetration of Arab groups in the Jawf valley), in North-West Arabia (Nabateans). They all shared common features, particularly in the funerary practices. And yet, the origin of these groups is still unknown. The study of a site in central Arabia could bring new evidence to the ile.

Late preislamic period and the advent of Islam

Issues regarding the Late Antiquity and the Islamic period are also numerous. A sharp decline of the settlement pattern can be observed in South Arabia, West Arabia and North Arabia from the 4th century onwards and accelerated during the 6th century. Is this process, partly linked to the evolution of the environmental context, to be seen in Central Arabia? Did Islam spread thanks to settlement vacuum? Was the Yam ma region able to compete with the new power of Medina? Finally, the soundings already done on the site of al-Yam ma (Ghazzi, 2010) indicate a temporary abandonment of most of the site at the end of the 12th century. This makes one wonder about the reasons leading to such a situation.

5/

Archaeological excavation at the site of al Yamāma

Three areas were to be investigated during the second season:

1/ The deep sounding initiated during the irst season in Area N6 (North of Building 1 -the "mosque") had to be extended and carried on so as to get a complete chronological sequence of the occupation of the site and of its material assemblage. This operation has been conducted by Michel mouton from November 24 to December 6.

2/ The mosque partly unearthed during the irst season had to be excavated with several aims: clearing the main columned hall for restoration; looking for previous buildings (most probably more ancient mosques) under the main building by local soundings. This operation has been conducted by Jérémie scHiettecatte and Pierre siméon from November 19 to December 6. They were assisted by Laetitia munduteGuy.

3/ A sounding had to be carried out in the south-western part of the site, where most of the evidence of a pre-Islamic occupation had been discovered on surface last season. It has been carried out by Michel mouton from December 8 to December 11.

The drawings of pottery and artifacts have been taken in charge by Laetitia munduteGuy during the whole duration of the ieldwork.

Surface study, topography, geomagnetic survey Topography

The topographic map of structures visible on the ground started last season had been achieved. The detailed mapping of excavated areas has also been done. Staff: Mathieu niveleau, surveyor, from November 24 to December 8. Material: Total Station Leica, D-GPS Trimble R4.

Geomagnetic survey

The geomagnetic survey of the fenced area initiated last season has been continued in the southern half of the site. Some particular areas have been surveyed into further detail. Staff: Bruno Gavazzi, from November 24 to December 8. Material: Geomagnetic sensors, real-time laptop, HMD glasses, D-GPS.

Surface study

An aerial photo coverage of the archaeological sites of the oasis and more particularly of al-Yam ma (surface & excavated areas) has been completed thanks to the use of a kite and an air balloon. Staff: Thomas saGory from December 7 to 15.

Restoration

Due to the very good state of preservation of the ruins of the mosque at al-Yam ma, its unearthing has to be followed by a restoration of the remains (strengthening of the mudbrick walls and preservation against weathering). Two specialists of mudbrick restoration (an archaeologist and an architect) from the High School of Architecture in Grenoble (France) joined us for a one-week stay so as to deine the best restoration procedure to be applied, taking into account the local environment and the very nature of the structures. They subsequently submited a restoration project for the mosque and other remains of al-Yam ma that could be applied from 2013 onwards with the agreement and inancial support of the SCTA. Staff: David Gandreau & Sébastien moriset, from November 23 to 30.

Moreover, consequently to this expertise, part of the restoration work has already started over the most sensitive part of Building 1 ("Mosque") unearthed during this season by Laetitia munduteGuy.

Environmental studies

Geomorphology A team of three geomorphologists continued the geomorphological mapping of the oasis (identiication of geological, hydrographical, pedological areas) carried out last year. the aim was to come up with a tool that could help us to understand how environment evolved through time and how it provided the water needed for agriculture. It will also be used as a predictive map to make the prehistoric survey easier. Staff: Antoine CHABROL [Nov. 30 -Dec. 15], Guillaume ].

Archaeozoology

The study of faunal remains from the excavation had to be carried out so as to identify the different faunal species present in the oasis in the past, be that domesticated ones or wild animals. Staff: Hervé moncHot, from November 15 to December 19.

Surveyor

Mathieu Niveleau

Bruno Gavazzi

Geophysicist Geomorphologists

Antoine Chabrol Guillaume Fortin

Archaeozoologist

Hervé Monchot

Photographer Restorers

Thomas Sagory Sébastien Moriset David Gandreau 6/ Registration system A homogeneous registering system has been set up to meet the requirements of both the survey of al-Kharj area and the excavation of the site known as al-Yam ma. It has been done by J. Schiettecatte and G. Charloux.

It is constituted of several related databases designed with the FileMaker Pro 10 software:

-Database of the archaeological sites of al-Kharj area (Fig. 1); -Database of the photographs taken during survey and excavation (Fig. 2); -Database of stratigraphic units (Fig. 3); -Database of archaeological structures (Fig. 4); -Database of archaeological artefacts (Fig. 5); -Database of pottery (Fig. 6); -Database of samples (bones, charcoal, slags, etc.) (Fig. 7).

The database of the archaeological sites has been designed so as to be exported and used on a GIS (Geographic Information System), the software being used is ArcGis Desktop 10.

7/ Topography

By Mathieu Niveleau, surveyor

The purpose of the topographical task during this second season was threefold:

-Firstly, to pursue the mapping of the remains that are visible on the ground, within the fenced area.

-Secondly, to draw as precisely as possible the archaeological remains excavated this season.

-Thirdly, to survey the neighbouring area outside of the fenced area so as to identify and to map the remains visible on the ground.

The devices used for the survey of the site were:

-A Total station Leica TCR 407 -A Differential-GPS Trimble R4

A/ The completion of the mapping of visible structures within the protected area

The second week on the ield was devoted to completing the map of remains showing on the surface within the fenced area. It has been done with the Total Station, in collaboration with Laetitia Munduteguy, Hervé Monchot or Jérémie Schiettecatte.

The central and south-western part of the site have been mapped. The central area did not yield a dense pattern of visible walls. The relief of this area is uneven, covered by many dunes. The natural ground level is high, compared to the rest of the site. This could explain the apparent lack of structures on the ground. On the opposite, the southern area has only been slightly covered by sand and the walls showing on the surface are numerous. Long walls and square structures are visible.

The map of the remains showing on the ground within the fenced area has been achieved at the beginning of the 3rd week. During that period, our focus was on the southeastern and central-eastern areas. To the southeast, only few outcropping walls were visible, whereas a cluster of honeycomb shaped structures have been seen in the central-eastern part of the site (ig. 8), north of the former track.

To better understand these changes in the density of showing walls, a Digital Elevation Model of the site has been done by registering as much as altitudes as possible over the archaeological area. It allowed to map of the contour lines of the site (ig. 9). B/ Mapping the remains outside the fenced area

The mapping of the remains at al-Yam ma has been carried out outside of the fence as well (ig. 10).

It has been made possible by the use of a differential GPS, which can be manipulated by one operator alone. The tripod equiped with the base of the D-GPS was set over point S2, within the site. It was then possible to work within a range of 4 to 5 km around that reference point.

The recent structures around the site have been mapped so as to set the site within its context (roads, buildings, enclosures).

West of the site, inside a walled area considered as a cemetery, an important concentration of tombs has been drawn. Tombs are characterized by the presence of a mudbrick at both their extremities. North of this area, a circular structure has been identiied. The presence of pebbles nearby made it possible to identify this structure with a well. No apparent wall has been recorded in this "cemetery".

The geomagnetic survey carried out in this area conirmed the absence of major underground structures.

North of the site, the presence of camel enclosures made it dificult to map all the structures outcropping in this area. Nevertheless, walls circumscribing small square rooms or caissons are frequent around the camel enclosures, in the vicinity of the fenced area. It could be seen as the continuity of the archaeological area. In this northeastern area, a long wall oriented east-west is visible over more than 90 m and could be the continuation of a long wall also visible in the protected area. 700 m north of the fenced area, another cluster of apparent walls have been observed and mapped. Nevertheless, no continuity of the settlement has been seen between this small settlement and the main site of al-Yam ma to the south. Several walls bordering small rooms have been mapped. A larger and more complex structure has also been recorded, circumscribed by several concentric walls.

East of the site, the ground has been badly damaged by modern building activity, still in progress. Identifying ancient structures in this area is therefore dificult. Several spots of melted mudbricks coming from collapsed structures can be seen but only few walls can be distinguished. In a trench dug within the frame of modern building activity, an ancient mudbrick structure is clearly visible. This pit and the walls have been mapped before their destruction.

The southwestern part of the area has been carefully studied since most of the pre-islamic material comes from this location. Nevertheless, recently abandoned palm-groves, traces of which are still visible, have badly damaged the area. Apparent walls are rare.

To inish, no walls have been seen southeast or south of the fenced area. This part has also been badly damaged by recent palm-groves.

C/ Mapping the excavated structures

Within the excavated area, the irst task has been to re-set the limits of the working area. A 18-by-30-m rectangle was established around Building 1.

Started last year, the realization of the plan of Building 1 has been resumed (ig. 11). Concerning the walls and columns whose bricks were visible, a drawing was made from zenithal photographs orthorectiied through the help of AutoCAD software. This technique was effective for walls W.043 and W.006, buttresses W.034 and W.035, niches, the western access of Building 1, as well as the columns unearthed this season. The accuracy of such a map is inferior to 1 to 2 cm. The general map of Building 1 was also accompanied with the positionning of the peculiarities of its loor (traces of former columns, game boards incised on the loor, pits).

A/ Method

Objectives of the geomagnetic measurements The cartography takes place as a part of the French/Saudi Arabian archaeological project directed by Jérémie Schiettecatte on the site of al-Yam ma. The aim of the study is to reveal the human-made structures buried in the ground.

Devices

Two devices were used on the site: the "backpack" and the "sledge". Both work on the same principle. The difference lies in the speed and precision of the measurements.

The Backpack (ig. 12) is built as follows:

-Four luxgate magnetometers from Bartington are ixed 50 cm apart from each other on an aluminium stick.

Thus the magnetic ield can be measured simultaneously at a distance of 25 and 75 cm in both directions from the centre of the stick. The cadence of measurement is 30 per second, with a precision of 1nT. This combination is attached on a backpack in such a way that the stick stands in front of the operator, 1 meter above the ground.

-A GPS antenna Trimble 5800 is ixed at the top of the backpack. The position is measured every second.

-An electronic digitizer is attached on the backpack; it acquires the magnetic and GPS data and stores them on a SD card. It also has a controller to start and stop the measurements as well as to record points of importance (such as obstacles, metallic wastes, etc.).

-The digitizer is linked to a mini-PC, itself linked to a head mounted display (HMD). With such a coniguration the data can be seen in real time through the HMD goggles. A controller allows the operator to interact directly with the PC without removing the backpack. The Sledge (ig. 13) uses most of the Backpack components with the following differences:

-The magnetometers are ixed at the front part of a sledge, a few centimetres from the ground, with a spacing of 10 cm.

-The GPS is attached at the back, 90 cm away from the captors.

-The digitizer is ixed in the middle.

-We don't use the mini-PC nor the HMD goggles. In both cases the device is powered by a 12V, 7Ah lead sealed battery placed within or on top of the digitizer.

Method of measurement

Once the Backpack is built and on the back of the operator, we proceed as follows:

-Calibration: the captors are calibrated above a set point in order to correct the differences of offset, sensibility and angle for each captor. The same calibration point is kept for the entire season.

-Static point: in order to correct the temporal variation (triggered mainly by the effects of temperature changes on the captors), the ield is measured above an identical point before and after each session of measurements (the "mapping").

-Mapping: the operator follows parallel proiles set every 2 meters with the mini-PC and shown on the HMD. The start and end of each proile, as well as obstacles are recorded using the remote. Thus, with respect to the spacing of the captors, he obtains magnetic proiles every 50 cm.

-In order to calculate the anomalies, measurements are made along transversal proiles perpendicular to the previous ones.

-At the end of the process the static point is measured once again and the captors re-calibrated. The Sledge requires 2 operators. The steps are the same as with the Backpack. The device is carefully dragged on the loor by the irst operator while the second one is responsible for marking the beginning and the end of each proile and push down the device if needed (to avoid it to fall in the slopes for example).

Data processing

After extraction, the data are processed using applimag, a software developed by the E.O.S.T in a matlab environment. The different steps can be summerized as follows: 1.

First the data are calibrated: the differences of measurement between the magnetometers for the same magnetic ield are reduced. They are due to the fact that each captor is not perfectly identical to the others.

2.

Then the time-related variations are removed, using the differences between the starting and ending static points, by considering a linear variation.

3.

After that, data is checked and any incoherent result (due to obstacles, someone approaching too close to the operator, important vibrations of the device, etc.) is removed.

4.

The following step is to calculate the anomalies, i.e. the differences between the regional ield and the measured one. They are calculated using the average at the intersecting points with the transversal proiles. 5.

To display the data a grid of anomalies is calculated with a step of 0.25 m (0.05 m with the Sledge) and a sharp smooth (0.1). 6.

Often, differences of intensity between captors or proiles are visible, mostly due to the imprecisions of localization and calibration. An elegant solution to reduce this effect is to recalculate the anomalies using a soft-grid. Further treatments are then to be done in the laboratory.

B/ Results

During the two weeks of measurements, over 85 kilometres have been covered with the Backpack. It corresponds to 110 000 magnetic measurements over an area of about 170 000 m². Three zones were covered (ig. 14):

-1-The southeastern part of the site within the fence; -2-A test in the necropolis out of the western wall; -3-A test in the southwest of the site, close to a camel ield, where some fossilized agricultural patterns are still visible on the surface. A fourth zone of 1875 m² was covered with the Sledge. It represents 18416 magnetic measurements (ig. 15).

In the following igures the scale is in metres, the colour-bar in nT. uniformly coloured sheets) are very likely due to the geological features of the site. Another important pattern for anthropogenic structures are geometrical shapes. In the studied zone different square/ rectangle forms can be identiied, the black circles show the most obvious ones. Combining the map with the results of the previous year (Figure 16) shows the continuity of some structures. The arrows point the most evident ones. On the second zone (ig. 17) one can observe low frequency anomalies. Those are likely linked to geological variation, but the geometrical shape in the south (circled) deserve further analyses before reaching a conclusion. The lineament pointed by the arrows might also be human-related. According to these facts, it is clear that the area is worth further investigations.

Zone 3

On the third zone (ig. 18) the only noticeable element is an E-W lineament showing an anomaly of more than 1000nT. This can be linked easily to a metal waterpipe: its opening is visible a few hundreds of metres to the east. From an archaeological point of view the lack of other structures would indicate that further measurements do not seem relevant.

Sledge

The measurements with the Sledge (ig. 19) were carried above a zone where a strong concentration of misired ceramics (usually found close to ovens) is visible on the surface. Moreover, the magnetic mapping of the previous year revealed a strong anomaly which could be interpreted as the trace of the burning place of an oven (ig. 20). Despite a bad calibration on the southwestern part of zone 4 (ig. 19), different structures can be seen. The lineaments are most likely due to walls (arrows). In fact, parts of them are still present on the surface (ig. 20). The anomalies reveal their continuity within the ground. The centre of the strong anomaly in the southwest could be the place of a pottery oven (circle). From November 19 to December 13, we concentrated our efforts on the excavation of Building 1, located in the north of the site, in area N6. It proved to be a mosque. In 2011, south of Sounding 1, the northwest corner of a columned hall (R 013 of Building 1) had been excavated. In that area, we had uncovered two large mudbrick walls bordering a room with a plastered loor and two huge mudbrick columns standing over this loor. This season, it has been decided to extend the excavation of this building.

Extent of the working area

To enlarge the excavated area to the whole Building 1, the southern limit of Sounding 1 has been pushed 25 metres back southwards, so that it comes to the southern edge of Area N6. It has been enlarged by 5 metres to the west and 7 metres to the east. A bench, oriented north-south, has been spared through the building, so as to keep a stratigraphic record of the illing of the building. The excavated area was then 30 x 18 meters -that is to say ca. 540 sq m. (ig. 21).

Cleaning the summit of the walls around Building 1

Beyond the excavated area, many structures were partly visible on the ground and it was crucial to determine the way Building 1 was tied to these surrounding buildings. Therefore, in areas N6, N7, O6 and O7, the summits of the walls have been cleaned so as to plan the immediate vicinity of the mosque. More than 50 walls have been registered and described in this area (ig. 21). Plan of Building 1 Building 1 is a monumental mudbrick structure comprising a large columned hall (R.013), 28 m in length (N-S) and 12 m in width (W-E). The room is bordered by 3 thick mudbrick walls (W.002 to the north, W.006 to the west and W.043 to the south). To the east, it is bordered by a row of two pillars and eight columns, opening onto a courtyard east of the building, ca. 27 x 25 m (ig. 21-22). The courtyard is circumscribed by mudbrick walls to the north and east. To the south, the picture is still unclear. Late occupation (such as Building 2, dated to the 17th-18th centuries) makes the plan confused. R.013 is divided in 3 naves, oriented north-south, each being bordered by a row of 10 columns to the east (or 8 columns and 2 pillars for the eastern nave). Three buttresses are aligned with these rows of columns on wall W.002 to the north and on W.043 to the south. Two small walls have been erected between buttress W.034 and column Co.023, and between buttress W.035 and column Co.024. These walls are not tied with the neighbouring structures but are abutting them. They did not reach the same height as the columns do and appear as a late addition. Their basis has not been reached yet. These two walls are dividing space into compartments in the southern part of R.013. Between most of the pillars and columns of the eastern row, small mudbrick walls are closing the space between them. They are abutting the columns and pillars and have been built in a late phase of occupation of the building. It is all the more probable that they are founded at a higher altitude than the columns/pillars are. The western wall W.006 comprises a large rectangular niche in its central part, turned toward the west. This niche has been partly disturbed by a pit dug after the building abandonment for mudbrick recycling. The western side of this niche has been disturbed in a secondary occupation of the building. It irst openeded onto the outside westards, and later on closed again by a thin mudbrick wall (W.044). In the southern half of W.006, the wall comprises a second niche (N.050), rounded in shape, and cut off from the outside by a thin mudbrick wall (W.049). South of W.006, in the southwestern corner of R.013, a passageway leading toward the outside, to the west, is visible. It has been closed by a small mudbrick structure. The late collapse mixed with sand deposits and surface erosion (UF. 022): at the top of the mound, we removed a layer of hardened sand with fragments of mudbricks alternating with layers of melted mudbrick. In close proximity to the central niche, some fragments of collapsed mudbrick were covered with mud coating and a thin white plaster. This layer yielded very little pottery. Among it, a fragment of cup with an chocolate glaze outside cover (Y.022.4) comparable to sherd Y.102.3, a Chinese import found in 2011 in the occupation layer of Building 2 and dated to the late 17thearly 18th centuries. The discovery of glass bangles and rifle bullets in this layer are also indicative of a late dating.

A late recycling of building material (UF 025): Within the central niche of W.006, a large pit (P.040) has been dug through W. 006 and through the several occupation layers mentioned hereunder (loors F.039, F.046, F.014 and F. 015). This pit has badly damaged this area. It is illed with loose yellow sand (30-40 cm) topped by sand and mudbrick fragments, some of these being slightly burnt. This pit is a result of mudbrick recycling. Numerous imprints of a large tool (spade) on the northern side of the pit and at the bottom are visible.

An accumulation of aeolian sand above the 5th occupation level (UF 023 -UF 036 -UF 040): this thick layer of aeolian sand deposit has been removed under a layer of collapsed mudbrick. Floor F 039 was uncovered: a hardened ground made of grey sand with chaff imprints only partially preserved into the central niche of W.006 and in its vicinity. Immediately to the northeast of the niche, a small earthen step (5 cm high) is covered by a thin layer of plaster. This loor is abutting W. 044, at the rear of the niche and W.049, at the rear of N.050, the southern niche in W.006. This loor F.039 testiies of the latest occupation of Building 1, at a time both niches were closed by a thin and rough wall.

The 4th occupation level (UF 026 -UF 037 -UF 042 -UF 043): After having removed a dense sandy layer, a hardened loor made of grey sand (F 046) was uncovered. This loor is abutting several thin and rough walls built either to the rear of the western niches (in the middle of W.006 and N.050) or beween the columns and pillars of the eastern row. All these walls are founded directly on the sand, at an higher altitude than the walls/columns/pillars against which they are abutted. This period might have been a late reoccupation of the building following a period of abandonment and aeolian accumulation. The discovery in the southern part of the building of an ottoman pipe lead us to date this occupation to the 17th century onwards.

The 3rd occupation level (UF 026): this level has only been excavated in the northwestern quarter of Building 1. Under a thick layer of sand, a thin layer of hardened grey sand has been cleared (F.014). Over this level, foot imprints were visible near column Co.017. Palm-leaf mattress imprints have already been seen during the irst season in the northwestern part of the columned hall (R.013). This loor was recovered by a layer of sand above which the small wall closing the central niche of W.006 to the west was founded. Therefore, this loor corresponds to a period during which the so-called "niche" was opened onto the west and onto the outside. It was used as a gate. The same is possible for niche W.050.

The 2nd occupation level (UF 030): this level has only been excavated in the northwestern quarter of Building 1. After the removing of a ca 20-cm-thick layer of dense orange sand under F 014, we uncovered loor F 015, a hard loor made of plaster. This loor corresponds to a major phase of restoration of the building during which a new plaster loor was poured and during which the mudbrick columns were erected over this loor. At that time, both niches N.050 and that in the middle of W.006 were closed to the west. Over F.015, several imprints or engravings of game boards are visible in the plaster.

The 1st occupation level (UF 030): a careful study of F.015, at the base of stratigraphic unit UF 030, has yielded some evidence of a more ancient occupation. Traces of former buttresses and columns are visible on the ground; they have been levelled during the restoration phase of the so-called "2nd occupation level". They testify of a former building already having a columned hall.

Previous occupation levels?

The excavation is still in progress and former occupation levels are to be expected beneath the layers investigated so far. Their study will be one of our aims during next ield season.

Architectural description of Building 1

The walls are all built in rectangular mudbricks (ca. 36 x 20 x 12 cm), laid in horizontal courses. They vary in thickness. The northern wall W.002 and the northern part of the western wall W.006 have been damaged and repaired at least once. W.002 shows the trace of a collapse and repair with stone blocks and mudbricks. W.006 has been rebuilt in its northern part by building a thin wall over a larger base (vestige of the former wall). The columns are all built in triangular mudbricks. They are laid directly over the plaster loor F.015. Their heavy weight occasionally caused the loor to crack. They are preserved over a height of 1.1 (Co.004) to 2.4 metres (Co.023). The columns of the central row have all been repaired at mid-height by a illing of stone and mud. This restoration dates back to one of the late reoccupations of Building 1 (4th or 5th occupation). The columns of the eastern row are badly preserved. They have been badly restored at several stages of the occupation of the building and the erosion gives them a mushroom proile. The loors are usually simply made of hardened sand, be that by pouring water on the ground or by the repeated comings and goings. The loors are usually much more visible in the western nave. Only F.015 has been carefully built, by using a gypsum plaster over a preparation layer made up with gravels and plaster. Architectural decors are rare. Only three small triangular niches have been found in W.006 (ig. 24). Some part of wall W.006 were covered with a white plaster. The way the columned hall R.013 was roofed is still unclear. Only few blocks of mud with imprints of palm-leaves have been found, possibly being the remain of a mud coating recovering small branches laid over palm trunks. All this is hypothetical.

The surroundings of Building 1

To the south, the west and the north of Building 1, a thick layer of sand deposit has been removed so as to reveal the facing of the outer walls. Under this sand layer, the collapse of the western and northern wall of the building has been uncovered and removed. Several circulation levels have been cleared outside the building. Material sampled in these layers proved to be a mix of sherds from different periods (9th century white Abbasid glazed pottery together with whiteand-blue porcelain). They are of no help in dating the building. They only provide a terminus ante quem to the erection of Building 1 (9th cent. AD).

The function of Building 1

During the 1st and 2nd occupation levels, Building 1 was without doubt a mosque. This interpretation is supported by:

-the presence of a rectangular building comprising a square courtyard and a large columned hall; -the absence of material inside the building at that time; -the presence of two niches in its western wall, turned toward the Kaaba. These are mi r bs and W.006 is the qibla wall. During the 3rd occupation phase, the building probably lost its cultic function since mi rabs were opened onto the outside. The building possibly recovered its religious function during the 4th and 5th occupation levels, if we consider the closing of both the niches by small walls.

Sounding 1 (Area N6)

By Michel Mouton

In order to explore the early layers of the hill, a deep sounding was carried out at the northern extremity of the trench, in the continuity of 2011 season's work. The area was irst extended to the west, reaching 7.50 m from east to west, and 9 m from north to south. Benches were left against the excavation walls to avoid the breaking of the sandy sediment, which reduced progressively the excavated area (ig. 25-26). The work was stopped at a depth of 6 m under the base of Wall W001 for security reasons. The deepest layers (UF 061) were reached in a small sounding 1m square. The virgin soil, probably a luvial Holocene terrace of the wadi looding at the south of the archaeological area, was not found. The base of the sounding is at 421.30 m in absolute hight, approximately at the same level than the archaeological deposits unearthed in the trench opened in the south-western farm.

The lowest excavated layer is a deposit of aeolian sand containing no material. The presence of earlier layers of occupation cannot be discarded. A thin level of ash and earth in loose sand indicates an occupation, but not the presence of any construction (UF 061; altitude 421.70 m). A 70-cm-thick accumulation of aeolian sand separates this deepest level from a second occupational deposit, much thicker, also directly lying on the loose sand (UF 059; altitude 422.85 / 422.40 m). A line of thin lime particles were visible at the base of the level, together with patches of mixed ash. In the 40 cm of deposit forming this layer, two ireplaces were found, concentrations of ash and charcoal which have been sampled. Nodules of clay and a few fragments of mudbricks attest the presence of some dwelling constructions nearby. Pottery sherds and faunal remains were collected. Again, this second occupation level is covered by a thick layer of aeolian sand containing very few material: almost no pottery sherds and some badly preserved faunal remains.

A layer of mixed sand containing mudbrick fragments densely accumulated to the south seals this sand accumulation (UF 057; altitude 423.40 / 423.90 m at the base). It corresponds to the destruction of some structure probably lying southeast of the trench according to the density and thickness of the layer there (almost 85 cm) and its sloping northwards. It was the richest deposit, in terms of archaeological material, as it contained numerous faunal remains and pottery sherds, together with a few fragments of chlorite containers and glass vessels. A sand level mixed with a few mudbricks separated this level from a heavy destruction layer sloping towards the northwest (UF 055; altitude 424.56 / 424.62 m at the base). This destruction layer includes part of a mudbrick wall fallen in the slope created by the accumulation of remains; four rows of mudbricks were visible on their side. Again, according to the slope and the density of the destruction layer, the construction must have been erected at short distance south of the southeastern corner of the trench. Sand accumulates above this destruction layer, alternating with at least two thin layers of mud particles mixed with faunal remains (UF 051 -053).

The occupational sequence explored in the sounding can be divided in two phases, on the base of the stratigraphical data, the structure of the remains and the characteristics of the pottery assemblage. In stratigraphy, the upper layers UF 051-057 are separated from the lower ones UF 059-061 by a thick aeolian sand deposit, almost empty of material, representing a period of abandonment of the area. The upper layers are the result of the erosion and destruction of nearby constructions, with a signiicant accumulation of mudbricks and the progressive formation of an anthropic hill. The lower layers are sloping very slightly, and represent successive occupations in the sand dune, at a distance of some constructions, which must not have been very dense in the site considering the very few remains of plaster and mudbricks collected. Finally, in the upper layers, the pottery assemblage includes a large number of productions, well represented in all the late occupation of the site, where they have been found associated with diagnostic material belonging to the Islamic periods. The absence of very signiicant pieces does not allow any chronology to be produced; a regional common pottery sequence with precise chronological diagnostic markers is still to be deined as a reference frame. The two lower sandy occupation levels under the thick layer of aeolian sand UF 058, at the bottom of the sounding, contain a different assemblage. The collected sherds indicate a much more homogeneous assemblage, composed mainly of two or three fabrics, with a strong presence of Black and Red chaff tempered ware. The absence of greenish and yellowish wares characteristic of the Islamic industries must be underlined. The inding of carinated dishes of well levigated clinky buff fabric, together with a narrow neck of a very small green glazed lask, could indicate a pre-Islamic date for this early phase of occupation.

The counting of the pottery sherds found in this stratigraphical sounding allow some irst remarks on the evolution of the assemblage. A total of 416 sherds were collected, and distributed into the 42 different fabrics described on the base of the material gathered since the beginning of the project. A few categories present a signiicant evolution, forming two groups of fabrics: -fabrics 1a,1b and 35 as the common, coarse and ine categories of a probable unique industry of yellow to greenish ware, the inest vessels been covered with a whitish buff slip; -fabrics 15, Black and Red chaff tempered ware, and 32, Fine Cream clinky ware. Their evolution across the stratigraphy of the northern trench can be fractioned in three levels, subdividing the upper phase in two levels: -UF050 to UF055 : fabrics1a, 1b and 35 = 33% fabrics 15 and 32 = 3,7% -UF056 to UF057 : fabrics1a, 1b and 35 = 50,5% fabrics 15 and 32 = 1,8% -UF059 to UF061 : fabrics1a, 1b and 35 = 8,8% fabrics 15 and 32 = 67,7%

The group of 1a, 1b and 35 fabrics appears to be more represented in the upper phase, and mostly at the beginning of it.

If the layers of the upper phase correspond to the Islamic period of occupation, as a irst hypothesis, this industry could be a marker of that period. Fabrics 32 and 15 appear to be more represented in the lower layers, and mostly fabric 15, quasi-absent from the upper layers.

The Layla ware is poorly represented: only 8 fragments distributed in the layers of the upper phase (1,8% and 0,8% of the ceramics), none in the lower phase. It does not seem to be an industry diagnostic of the earliest occupations of the site.

Faunal remains were abundant, mainly in destruction level UF 057. Goat, cow and gazelles were identiied; the sieving of the sediments revealed small pieces corresponding to some lizard, dog and bird species. The dog vertebra showed cutting marks.

Sounding 3 (Area G17)

By Michel Mouton

During the general survey of the site carried out since the 2011 season, pottery was collected in some places outside the fenced archaeological area. One of the most interesting areas identiied is an ancient farm bordering the southwestern side of the site, against the corner of the walled cemetery. The abundant pottery material on the ground includes signiicant criss-cross painted bowls which are not to be found elsewhere on the site (a fragment found in a farm to the southeast of the archaeological area) and Layla ware.

As the land was cultivated in recent past, and for that purpose partially leveled, a sounding was needed to check if the archaeological deposits related to the material were still preserved, allowing future exploration (ig. 27).

A trench 10 m long and 1 m large was excavated 20 m from the northern fence of the farm (ig. 28), with the kind authorization of the owner of the land. The archaeological remains were found just a few centimetres under the surface. The sediment near the surface was densely compacted, and cemented by heavy salinity due to long term irrigation in modern times. For a matter of time, the deposits were only partially explored and the stratigraphical potentiality could not be evaluated. Nevertheless, the results are of great interest and justify the protection by the authorities of that piece of land left out of the archaeological area. In the western part of the trench, the remains of two kilns were found. Their function still cannot be clearly determined, but it could be related to potter activities. To the east, some badly preserved walls and undisturbed deposits were partially uncovered.

The western kiln R.068 is the largest (ig. 29). Its chamber is trapezoidal in plan, 138 cm large, lined by a 4-5 cm thick plaster, built against a massive mud layer illing a pit previously dug into an anthropic rubble deposit. The plaster lining the chamber is heavily burnt, together with the mud (reddish) on the backside of it, almost 8 cm deep.

The chamber was illed in the upper part by loose sand, and down progressively with small irregular blocks of mud (fragments of the vault?) forming a compact layer cemented by the salinity. Under this illing, a loor made of smooth yellow clay, nearly 10 cm thick, separates the upper chamber from the combustion chamber underneath. This was revealed by a pit in the loor which opens onto the empty space of the lower chamber, partially illed by loose sand progressively iniltrated after abandonment of the structure. The excavation was stopped before reaching the base of the lower chamber.

To the east, a second kiln, R.069, was excavated into the same anthropic sediment, a dense rubble deposit made of earth and fragments of mudbricks (?), and containing faunal remains, charcoal and pottery sherds. Smaller in size, and extending mostly out of the exploration trench, only a narrow strip of its southern extremity was reached.

The chamber was lined by a 4-5 cm thick plaster, heavily burnt, as the mud layer on the back side of it, deeply reddish. Inside, it was illed by a very compacted layer of mud and plaster fragments, containing many pottery sherds, of different fabrics, including an almost complete shape of a bowl. Along the eastern side of the inner chamber, a clay loor was preserved. To the west, the limit is not clear, as the plaster is not preserved, but the deeply burnt sediment lines the structure. The rubble sediment in which the kilns were installed contains to the west of R.068 numerous pottery sherds including many greenish wares and a few sherds showing irregular coloration of the clay, possibly belonging to misired vessels. If, as it appears from the irst observation of the stratigraphy in this very narrow exploratory trench, this sediment predates the construction of the kilns, the overired pottery fragments it contains could indicate a long term tradition of potter activities in the area.

To the east of the kilns, room R.070 is bordered by walls W.072 to the north, W.073 to the east and W.074 to the west. To the west and the east, the limits of the inside walls appear, due to the difference of sediment. The two faces of north-south wall W.074 were clearly lined but no faces of plaster or bricks were found. The parallel wall to the east, W.073, has an internal regular face, but was it a wall or just the face of a pit excavated in anthropic deposits? In fact, its west face was clearly seen, lined by the difference of sediment of the so-called wall W.073 and the ashy illing of the room R.070, but no face was found to the east, nor any limit in the ground. To the north, W.072 was well lined near the corner but to the east its limit seems to correspond to a pit, the layer at the base forming a concavity. The room was illed by a 40 cm thick layer of compacted ash layers, some very thin, some others including many charcoals. With the ash were mixed large animal bones, although these were not burnt: this space has been illed with rubble from different origins, but mainly ash from heavy ire. Two ireplaces were lying on the rubble, against W.073 related with heavy burning traces on the wall, and at the southwestern corner. To the west, a layer of white plaster forms a circular area, coming up against walls W.072 and W.074. The area to the west of R.070 has not been clearly delimited. It corresponds to a space between the western face of the so-called W.073 and a limit oriented NW-SE observed in the mud at the eastern extremity of the trench. But none of these limits were conirmed as no faces of walls could be found. The illing of the area is of hard dense sediment comparable to mudbrick, mixed with some white gypsum irregular blocks and very few material. It has been excavated to a depth of 40 cm.

The ceramics collected in the southwestern farm sounding are numerous (ig. 30): a total of 948 sherds, more than the double of the material found in the northern trench, for ten times less volume of sediments. This pottery assemblage appears to be very homogeneous, as fabrics are concerned. If we refer to the same groups than in the northern trench: fabrics1a, 1b and 35 = 68,7% fabrics 15 and 32 = 1,2% The remains unearthed in the southwestern farm are related to the middle stratigraphical level of northern trench. The diagnostic group of the earliest occupation is poorly represented. And the relatively strong presence of Layla ware (5%) conirms a late date for these contexts. But these chronological indications are to be conirmed by a larger sampling of ceramics and the discovery of some diagnostic material. 2011). This year, this typology has been partly amended and largely completed on the basis of the numerous sherds uncovered in both Soundings 1 & 3, and the excavavtion of Building 1 ("Mosque"). This new typology is displayed here below.

a

Common Greenish ware Medium greenish ware; medium to thick wall; fine to medium black or red grits, some with few chaff temper ; some with yellow exploded grits. Possible tournassage.

Incised decoration: horizontal lines, wavy lines, hatched patterns

Medieval glazed

Eastern Porcelain and Stoneware

Yellow whitish surface, not systematic; bitumen coated in the inside wall (Gulf ovoid transport jars / torpedo jars).

Thin Greenish Ware

Medium to thin ware, light green in color. Well levigated, well fired, fine regular surface. Fine mineral grey temper.

Fine Grey Ware

Well levigated grey ware, no visible temper, medium thick walls. Grey-black slip partially burnished (some strip burnished)

Fine Cream Ware

Medium to fine wall, light orange red to buff ware, well levigated, well fired, clinky. Thick white-cream slip, smoothy in surface, outside. Inside, thin wheel streaks. Very thin sandy temper abundant, sections slightly scratchy, possible few thin black and red mineral inclusions. Tournassage at the base in one case

Fine White glazed Porcelaine imitation

Buff to orange fabric, thin walls, very well levigated, no visible temper White regular shiny glazed.

Common Reddish Buff ware Whitish slip

Well fired orange-red to buff ware; medium to thin wall; few thin black & red grits and thin sandy temper. Whitish slip with thin wheel streaks. Same ware coarse = 2; same ware plane = 4; same ware with red brown black slip = 36

Common Orange Red ware Red Slip

Coarse Orange Clinky

Orange to red ware, grey core. Angular white and black mineral medium to thick temper. Clinky; regular sections, with grits, medium thickness. Redto brown slip inside and outside

Yellow Green Glazed

Glazed ware very uniformely preserved, light yellow greenish in color, slightly goldy Yellow buff ware very well levigated, no temper visible

11/ Environmental studies

Preliminary study of the animal bones at al Yamāma

By Hervé Monchot (Labex Resmed, PRES Sorbonne Université)

The zooarchaeological study is important not only to understand the environnment of the al-Yam ma oasis but also for a better understanding of the subsistance strategies of the inhabitants of the site and the sources of this diet. The fauna material was identiied on the ield by the author during the second season ( 2012).

This campaign focused on the excavation of the Building 1 ("Mosque") and its western surroundings (UF 022 to UF 048), as well as on the excavation of a large deep sounding (Sounding 1), looking for the transition between pre-Islamic and Islamic periods, located in the northern third of the trench of the Sounding 1 (UF 050 to UF060).

For an exact location and a signiication of the different stratigraphic units, the reader may also refer to this report for further explanation. Generally the bones came from three types of context:

• Human circulation/occupation levels (loors, pathway, ire place) substantially in the mosque or around it;

• Sedimentary (sandy) aeolian illing (dump area): bones (carcasses) have been abandoned or thrown over some structures (walls) in places away from the pathway;

• The collapse of mudbrick structures (i.e., walls).

Finally some bones came from a small pit (Sounding 3) located in the South-East at 700 m from the main excavated area (see this report for more details). All these archaeological levels are dated to Islamic periods.

The zooarchaeological analyses will aim to better understand the developing dynamics of the management and exploitation of animal resources during each phase of occupation of each settlement and then evaluating the main diachronic changes registered. But the site is still under excavation and research, and therefore some of the conclusions presented here are preliminary hypotheses. The small sample size in each stratigraphic layers or location associated with an uncertain chronological range (i.e., work in progress) must remain tentative. Consequently, the aim of this report is not to attempt a detailed analysis of diet in Yam ma during the Islamic times, nor of temporal changes during the different phases of occupations but to give an outline and indicate areas of potential that can be addressed in the future phases of excavations.

The identi ied species Sounding

The total of bone assemblage recovered in the 2012 ield season from Sounding 1 comprises 5771 faunal remains, with a total weight of nearly 24.5 kg. Table 1 shows that mammals largely dominate; birds and molluscs are very rare (respectively NISP = 5 and 4). No ish bones were identiied. Only 1435 remains (24.87%) are determinable anatomically and speciically. The assemblage was recovered entirely by hand retrieval hand-collected except the sediment found in the northern trench which was systematically sieved (0.5 mm).

In addition, 108 remains were recovered from Sounding 3.

Using a modern animal bone comparative collection, bone specimens were identiied to the lowest possible taxonomic category and the anatomical element, or portion thereof, represented. When necessary, published literature, including [START_REF] Barone | Anatomie comparée des mammifères domestiques[END_REF] anatomy atlas and Smuth and Steiger's [START_REF] Smuts | Anatomy of the dromedary[END_REF][START_REF] Steiger | Vergleichend morphologische Unter-suchungen an einzelknochen des postkranialen Skeletts des Altweltkamele[END_REF] papers regarding the camel, were consulted.

The faunal assemblage shows a state of preservation characteristic of the majority of the sets known in the desert. The bone fragmentation is intense, especially for the mammals that are represented by a large proportion of splinters (e.g., unidentiied fragments). So, with the exception of the small bones, short, strong and compact (i.e., carpal, tarsal and phalanxes), a few long bones (i.e., humerus, radio -ulna. femur and tibia), skull, vertebras or bone of belts bone were complete. This fragmentation is the result of several ante-depositionnal processes (e.g., butchery techniques) and postdepositionnal (e.g., trampling, weathering and of course excavations technique).

Due to the high bone fragmentation, certain categories based on animal size were used to sort the unidentiied fragment:

The predominance of adult camels corresponds well to an age proile expected for pack animals. According to [START_REF] Horwitz | A review of camel milking in the Southern Levant[END_REF], three different camel management strategies based on male-female ratio and age proile -one for milk, a second for meat and a third for transport/draught -could be expected. Furthermore, they noted that camel herd composition is expected to differ between an urban site, a camel caravan and herds kept by nomadic camel herders. These assumptions can be tested on al-Yam ma material, trying to identify the sex ratio by a modern statistical method, the mixture analysis [START_REF] Org> Monchot | Statistical non parametric methods for the study of fossil populations[END_REF]Monchot, In press). This analysis is based on the premise that males are larger than females.

The camel consummation is attested by the presence of some ine cutmarks on bone made by a knife which relects skinning, dismemberment, or illeting activities (ig. 32) or by the presence of chop marks (especially on vertebra) made by a cleaver which underline primary butchery of the carcass.

The ovicaprid (sheep/goat)

Ovicaprid (Capra hircus/Ovis aries) are represented by 485 remains. Sheep and goats have been distinguished using morphometrical criteria [START_REF] Boessneck | Osteologische Unterscheidungsmerkmale zwischen Schaf (Ovis aries, Linné) und Ziege (Capra hircus, Linné)[END_REF]. When separation of the two species was not possible, their remains were placed in a combined sheep/goat category (i.e., ovicaprid). Bones and teeth of ovicaprids were found in almost all UF (Tab. 1), which is not surprising given the important role played by theses animals in the diet of the inhabitants of the desert: sheep and goats are the main source of food in meat, but also in milk for the inhabitants of al-Yam ma. This is conirmed by many butchery marks (cut and chop marks). Ageable mandibles plus isolated teeth have been grouped according to the stages of [START_REF] Payne | Kill-off patterns in sheep and goats: the mandibles from Asvan Kale[END_REF], but as for the camel, the mandibles with teeth are rare and do not allow a reliable calculation of mortality proile.

The Arabian gazelle

The inhabitants of al-Yam ma, suggesting an important hunting activity, consumed a small gazelle, which are represented by 20 remains. The gazelle bones present characteristic osteomorphological features and a preliminary biometric study shows clearly that we are in presence of a smaller species (e.g., the Arabian gazelle, Gazella arabica also called to the Saudi gazelle, Gazella saudiya) than the mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella) [START_REF] Peters | Osteomorphological features of the appendicular skeleton of gazelles, genus Gazella Blainville 1816, Bohor Reedbuck, Redunca redunca (Pallas, 1767) and Bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus (Pallas, 1766)[END_REF][START_REF] Thouless | Conservation status of gazelles in Saudi Arabia[END_REF][START_REF] Munro | An exploration of character traits and linear measurements for sexing mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella) skeletons[END_REF]. The Saudi gazelle, in contrary to usual practice, is not regarded as a a subspecies of G. dorcas [START_REF] Yom-Tov | Gazella dorcas[END_REF]. It is important to note that the Arabian gazelle, the smallest one, was an elusive gazelle that was apparently hunted to extinction in its Middle-Eastern homeland, Saudi Arabia.

Gazelle inventory: UF 041 (N=1): a complete distal metapodial; UF 050 (N=4): two phalanx 1; one phalanx 2; one distal metapodial; UF 055 (N=2): one phalanx 1; one fragment of a left mandible with M1M2 (old individual);

UF 056 (N=7): a phalanx 2; a distal metapodial unfused; a left distal tibia; a fragment of a proximal radius; a complete left metatarsal; a distal condyle unfused of a metapodial; a right proximal fragment of a tibia; UF 057 (N=4): a right cubonavicular; a horncore fragment; a proximal scapula; XX UF 059 (N=1): a complete left talus; UF 060 (N=1): a complete right talus.

The cattle

Suspected last year several elements (N=12) conirms the presence of cattle (Bos taurus) in the bone assemblage: UF 033 (N=1): a second complete phalanx; UF 051 (N=2): a fragment of a proximal metatarsal; a distal fragment of a humerus; UF 052 (N=2): fragment of a mandible; diaphysis fragment of a tibia; UF053 (N=7): four teeth (a upper M3 right; a upper M2 right; a lower M2 right; a fragment of a upper molar); a fragment of a left cubonavicular; a fragment of a right cubonavicular; a proximal fragment of a right metatarsal.

Nevertheless, the presence of cattle remains is marginal compared to ovicaprids and camel and could be explained by its strong ecological requirements (e.g., water and pasture) and its easy replacement by the camel.

The Equid (Donkey/Horse)

In UF 041, the Equid is represented by three donkey (small sized) bones: a complete right navicular, a distal extremity of a metapodial (BD= 28.0; DD= 22.8) and a medial fragment of a right distal tibia extremity.

In UF 031, a complete distal extremity of a metapodial might belong to a large Equid (BD= 28.0; DD= 22.8). They can be attributed to the horse or even possibly to a hybrid (mule). Given the small size of the assemblage analysed to date, it may instead indicate that Equid meat was rarely consumed in this part of the site or so Equids are not very often used in al-Yam ma. Equid (horse/donkey) meat and Islam: Eating the meat of all kinds of horses is permissible as recorded by the majority of Muslim scholars. The evidence is the Hadith reported from Jabir Bin Abdullah that "On the day of Khaibar, Allah's Apostle [Muhammad] forbade the eating of donkey meat and allowed the eating of horse meat".

The dog

Many dog (Canis lupus f. familiaris) remains were represented in the al-Yam ma illing (N= 36) and especially a right hand in connexion with 23 bones recovered from UF 055 context. In UF 053, the atlas or irst cervical vertebra presents numerous disarticulation cut marks for the head removal (ig. 33).

Theses traces are not rare and were described in the Mosque in Bahrein [START_REF] Smith | The mammal, Bird, Reptile and Molluscs remains[END_REF]. They can be interpreted as a sign of meat consumption [START_REF] Bettini | Alimentation et poésie: un exemple du " Taghil al-Gahiliyya[END_REF]. Some cutmarks on dog bones were found also in the zone 9 of Madâ'in Sâlih [START_REF] Studer | Étude préliminaire des ossements analysés en 2011[END_REF]. UF 023 (N=1): a left distal radius; UF 034 (N=1): a metapodial diaphysis; UF 035 (N=3): an atlas; a fragment of an axis; a right distal of radius UF 038 (N=1): a complete left mandible without teeth; UF 041(N=2): a right fragment of a maxillar; a canine; UF 053 (N=3): an atlas; an axis; a diaphysis; UF 055 (N=25): 4 phalanx1; 4 phalanx 2; 4 phalanx 3; 4 sesamoids;1 capitatum; 1 hamatum; 1 trapezoid; 4 metacarpals; a left distal of a femur; a left proximal of a femur.

It is worth noting the very low marks (i.e., pits, fur-rows…) on bones made by dogs or other small carnivores (fox), which are generally rummage through the garbage or scavenge some abandoned herbivores carcasses. The fox

In the UF 053, a proximal radius clearly shows the presence of a small-sized canid, certainly a fox (Vulpes sp.). The exact species will be determined (e.g., red fox, Ruppell's fox or Blanford's fox). A small canid is represented also in UF 057 by a canine.

The desert hedgehog

A mandible of hedgehog, certainly belonging to the genus Paraechinus, which represents the desert hedgehogs, was found in the UF 052. Desert hedgehogs (Paraechinus aethiopicus) primarily eat insects and other invertebrates, but will sometimes also consume eggs, small vertebrates, and vegetation (ig. 34 & 35). It is widespread throughout arid desert and dry steppes. It tends to favour areas where food is more easily available, such as oasis and vegetated wadis [START_REF] Hutterer | Paraechinus aethiopicus[END_REF].

Birds

Five bird bones were identiied: • The ostrich (Struthio camelus) is represented by one fragment of eggshell found in the UF 102. The Middle Eastern Ostrich or Arabian Ostrich (Struthio camelus syriacus) is an extinct subspecies of the ostrich which once lived on the Arabian Peninsula and in the Near East. If the bones of ostriches are rare in prehistoric archaeological sites (with the possible exception of the Palaeolithic site of Umm El Tlel, [START_REF] Bonilauri | Un éclat de silex moustérien coincé dans un bassin d'autruche (Struthio camelus) à Umm El Tlel (Syrie centrale)[END_REF], the fragments of eggs are more frequent, e.g., D mat al-Jandal or Mad 'in S lih [START_REF] Studer | Preliminary Report on Faunal Remains[END_REF]Monchot, In press).

•

One fragment of a diaphysis of a tibiotarsus and one fragment of eggshell found in UF 059 represent the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus f. domesticus). They can be interpreted as food refuse, although no butchery marks could be observed.

•

In UF 057 a scapula and a carpometacarpus were found (identiication in progress).

Reptilia

Many bones belonging to lizards of the genus Urostamyx were discovered. The speciic identication is underway. The Uromastyx is a genus of lizard whose members are better-known as Spiny-tailed lizards, uromastyxes, mastigures, or dabb lizards. Uromastyx are primarily herbivorous, but occasionally eat insects, especially when young. They spend most of their waking hours basking in the sun, hiding in underground chambers at daytime or when danger appears. They tend to establish themselves in hilly, rocky areas with good shelter and accessible vegetation While some individuals have been buried in a natural way during the collapse of some walls of Building 1, it must not be forgotten that these lizards is a popular food for the Bedouin Arab [START_REF] Thesiger | Le Désert des déserts[END_REF][START_REF] Thigani Elmahi | The spiny-tailed lizard: a constituent of the occasional diet of traditional inland societies in Oman[END_REF].

Concerning the consummation of lizards and other small animals by Muslims, Malik said that there is no harm in eating lizards, gerbils and snakes. It is permissible to eat snakes and vipers, large lizards, hedgehogs and frogs.

Mollusks

Four fragments of seashell were found, and the species determination is in progress. The presence of seashell is a solid indication of exchange with groups coming from the Persian Gulf or from the Red Sea.

The identi ied species sounding Very few bones (n=108) were recovered from Sounding 3 (see this report for the exact location and more explanation).

The material is badly preserved and very weathered; it belongs to ive stratigraphic units: YM 201 -Surface layer -N=15: all are indeterminate fragments. YM 202 -Destruction and agricultural land -N=61: 56 indeterminate fragments; two ovicaprids bones (a distal left humerus; a phalanx 2); two camel fragments belonging to a left mandible; and a body fragment of a vertebra of medium size. YM 203 -Rubble? -N=1: a distal right of an ovicaprid tibia. YM 204 -Filling of kiln -N=6: ive splinters and one fragment of a distal left femur of camel. YM 205 -Ashy layer -N=25: 23 indeterminate fragments; a fragment of an unfused proximal humerus and one fragment of a body of a rib (Large sized individual).

Conclusion

The preliminary zooarchaeological 2012 results are consistent with those of the previous year and clearly show a susbistance economy largely based on the camel and sheep/goat (Tab. 2). These animals are purveyors of meat, milk and wool. For the camel, it would be simplistic to see an animal only as sheep and goat for the human consummations. The camel, one of a the symbol of the Bedouin life, served as transportation during many trips into the desert from oasis to oasis.

Besides that, the share of wild animals, eaten or not, is relatively important. For the herbivores, the gazelle could be largely hunted by al-Yam ma's inhabitants in the vicinity of the city or brought by different visitors as they pass in the oasis.

Carnivores could be killed during hunting sessions, or simply killed within the walls of the city, attracted by food or garbage.

Finally nothing in pigs has been identiied, which seems quite consistent with the period, the natural environment and Muslim habits. These results are comparable to the ethnographic description of Bedouin life in recent decades in the desert of Saudi Arabia. These results are very encouraging for the future. The continuation of these two seasons of excavations, and the extension to other areas in the city, should allow us to better understand the lifestyle and alimentary behaviour of the inhabitants of al-Yam ma and its evolution over the last two millennia. Following the irst year of Master research work done by Guillaume Fortin, it was agreed with Jeremie Schiettecatte that a second mission would be devoted to the creation of a regional geomorphological map. The achievement of this map has been retained as the subject of a M2 research paper by Guillaume Fortin, master student in physical geography in La Sorbonne -Paris 4 University, Paris. Eric Fouache came for the implementation of the geomorphological team. The MEDEE program led by Eric Fouache, inanced the part of the airline tickets (round trip Athens / Riyadh of Antoine Chabrol and Adu Dhabi / Riyadh of Eric Fouache), while the al-Yamama archaeological mission funded Guillaume Fortin's Paris / Riyadh ticket and living expenses of the team. The aim of this map is to delineate clearly areas of holocene geomorphological dynamics and assist the interpretation of survey results in terms of distribution of archaeological sites.

1/ Geological and tectonic background

The site of al-Yam ma is located near al-Kharj, a major town in the central region of the Najd in Saudi Arabia, in the Arabian Peninsula. The Peninsula belongs to the Arabian Plate, and is divided into three major geologic parts (ig. 36):

-The coast along the Red Sea, called Tihama, is the eastern margin of the Red Sea rift. It is a sedimentary plain from the northwest of the Arabian coast to the south, and is bounded in the east by the Sarawat Mountains. This margin partly represents the opening graben of the Red Sea, 30 million years ago.

-The Arabian Shield represents the uplift of the plate because of compressive and tectonic uplift events. Bounded in the west by the Tihama coastal plain, the Precambrian crystalline rocks of the Shield are limited to the north, south and east by younger sedimentary rocks. Multiple evidence of volcanic activity (crater, lavas, etc.) is found within the Shield, until medieval times (lava lows near Medina during the 13th century).

-Last, the Arabian platform underlies the Arabian Shield from the center of the Peninsula to the plain of the Arabian Gulf, and consists of Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks. This is a plateau region (inherited from the uplift of the Arabian Shield) in the central part and a plain area near the Arabian Gulf. Sedimentary rocks (mostly limestone and sandstone) are the result of numerous cycles of marine trangression/regression, with a thickness increasing from the West to the East. The location of the study area in the Arabian Platform explains the geological context of only sedimentary rocks. Large units of limestone and sandstone of Jurassic and Cretaceous form more or less eroded plateau, bordering valleys carved by a water system very low nowadays (wadis) but suficient in the past to incise several tens of meters. The major part of wadis within the oasis of al-Yam ma are inluenced by series of grabens originating from the opening of the Red Sea, marked by west-east direction faults. In the valleys, more recent sedimentary cover includes both luvial deposits (silt, clay, etc.) and eolian deposits, with barchan ields in numerous places. The current erosive context is mainly from wind, since very low rainfalls have minimal impact on the ground.

2/ Topography

The geological context, pretty simple, offers an easy explanation of the topographical context of the area of al-Yam ma.

The oasis is a large funnel-shaped valley between sandstone and limestone plateaus incised by many wadis (ig. The preparatory work was carried out from maps and satellite imagery. Depending of areas that seemed interesting or necessary for the understanding of dynamics, structures and soil implementation (lacustrine or stream deposits, faults, surface geology, etc.), ield explorations have been conducted. Each excursion was recorded with photographs, GPS coordinates and notes in association with indications of the geological map. When all necessary data have been collected, older and newer ones, the irst work consisted of a centralization using the GIS software ArcGIS 10. Digital and cartographic sources mentioned above have been georeferenced if necessary, allowing overlays. Archaeological sites discovered during the previous campaign as well as newly discovered have been added, with their GPS coordinates. Secondly, the geological map was digitized using polygons (ig. 39).

Once fully digitized, ArcGIS data was saved and exported in the Adobe Illustrator software. Starting from the polygon layer, the work consisted in targeting the study area and grouping into geological features polygons with similar values, then linking a corresponding illustration to the nature of the rock. We mainly focused on the quaternary dynamics related to our research topic (alluvial deposits, inherited terraces and paleolakes). Finally, illustrations indicating tectonic and structural elements have been added as well as known elevations. The inal map is intended to show the general geomorphological background in the oasis of al-Yam ma (Fig. 40).

4/ Holocene geomorphological dynamics

The geomorphological study focused on ive different areas whose dynamics have structured the landscape of the oasis (Fig. 41). In this ield study, we can make an initial assessment of the holocene geomorphological dynamics.

Slope dynamics

The slope dynamics are very low in the region. These slopes are mainly affected by the phenomena of thermal fracturing. The ine particles (clay, silt, sand) are in turn subject to a sometimes intensive delation, especially in the north of the W d Nis (many ields of Barkanes). South of the W d Nis , we note the presence of a large "glacis", which lies at the foot of a limestone plateau (zone 2). This "glacis", whose slope is very low, is cut through by the W d al-Ayn.

Even the slopes that are affected by large-scale faults are not subject to intense erosion, as in the north of the W d Sahba. Rivers often incise already fractured rocks (ig. 42) and their dynamics do not allow them to form large alluvial fans at the mouths of the valleys. The best clue to illustrate the weakness of these dynamics is archaeological. This is the cemetery located on the south side of Kharj: even the tombs on the line of the greatest slope are still in place and have not been affected by erosion.

Regionally, all the observations argue for a high slope stability, at least during the Holocene.

Wadi dynamics

Regionally, the three main wadis are the W d al-Ayn to the south (zone 2), the W d an fa to the northwest (zone 3-4), the W d Nis to the west (zone 1) and the W d al-Rayh n to the east (zone 5).

Physiography

The W d Nis lowing is a graben and is bordered by the slopes of limestone and sandstone. Its course is constrained. Its course stops fairly quickly and it does not reach the plain of al-Yam ma. W d al-Ayn, to the south, is larger and has a few tributaries. They have incised the limestone plateau to the west and the large "glacis". The talwegs are more pronounced but the bed of the W d al-Ayn remains narrow and shallow in the plain. Currently, its course stops at the town of al-Kharj.

The W d an fa is more complex. Associated with several tributaries, it is probably the cause of most of the alluvial sedimentation in the plain of Yam ma. It stops around Yam ma. Several palaeo-channels found downstream of the site, in the valley of W d Sahba, can however be attributed to him. This is a sign of more important past dynamics. The W d al-Rayh n, southeastern part of the site, is the most active. The downstream part is still in water and is used for the irrigation of agricultural areas, particularly through a reservoir of approximately 200 meters in diameter. In the upper part, the W d al-Rayh n has incised its bed with well marked alluvial Pleistocene terraces. These terraces refer to past hydrological dynamics incommensurate with those currently underway and certainly back in the Pleistocene.

Terraces

The alluvial terraces are only present in the W d al-Rayh n. Several factors may explain their presence: it is a small stream and its slope is steeper than the other wadis. We can assume that it is most sensitive to past changes in climate and hydrology. The terraces are mainly located in the middle course as well as upstream. We found at least three different levels of terraces (Fig. 43). All are made of pebbles and gravel, sometimes cemented for the highest terraces. These terraces are the only morphological indicators of regional Quaternary climatic luctuations. The lower alluvial terrace in the plain of al Yamāma The thickness of the Holocene alluvium is quite low in the plain of al-Yam ma. The study of abandoned wells in villages around the site shows the existence of a low terrace consisting of pebbles and gravel (ig. 44). This terrace refers to much more powerful past alluvial dynamics. The study of six different wells allows us to situate this terrace between 3 and 5 meters below the actual topographic surface. Without any absolute date, it is dificult to comment on the age of this lower terrace, but it is generally accepted in the Arabian Peninsula that these terraces were established during the Lateglacial or during the early Holocene. It can therefore be inferred a sedimentation of about 4 meters for the last 8000 years at the middle of the plain.

Palaeo-lakes (Fig. 45) Southwest of Kharj and north of the W d Nis are two large lat areas. The irst is currently crossed by the W d Al-Ayn and the second is located at the foot of the graben, near a paleo-course of the W d an fa (ig. 40). These large tracts of former lakes were illed with water in favor of a rise of the water table, probably during periods of wetter climate. These lakes are conspicuous in topography. A survey conducted in the irst lake indicates the presence of a very hard brown clay layer, about 60 cm deep. This clay, encrusted with gypsum, witnesses the sedimentological setting of a shallow water area. It is dificult to precisely date the end of the existence of these lakes. However, a radiocarbon date was made on a shell into the lake of the W d an fa. The resulting date is: 7000 + -400 y.BP.

General dynamic of the rivers

Overall, the Holocene dynamics are low. Sedimentation is slightly marked and refers to past dynamics. Surface low is also very low. We can assume that most of the water resource is underground and is through groundwater underlow that could locally emerge and create lakes.

At this point of our study, we can conclude that the large surfaces of the Yam ma plain are today fossil surfaces, mainly affected by the phenomenon of delation and accumulation of sand. The issue of the water resource

In desert environments, this issue is central in archeology. It is also dificult because it requires to take into account the dynamics of past environmental indices which are sometimes tenuous.

In the plain of al-Yam ma, the last major lows back to the surface seem Late glacial and early Holocene, as evidenced by the existence of the lower terrace with observed in the wells. There is no evidence of development of surface water courses. Lakes must not even have been a valuable resource: the amount of gypsum found at their surface indicates a brackish or salty taste, so probably unsafe. Thus, the main source of water is groundwater. This groundwater is underlow. Several archaeological evidences inform us on the weakness of this groundwater: the qanat near the W d Nis were dug several times (at least twice), which indicates a fast and important decrease of the water level, at least during the last 2000 years. Today, irrigation is done by pumping fossil water about 300 meters below the surface.

The location of the archaeological sites

It is interesting to superimpose the archaeological map obtained during surveys and the geomorphological map drawn this year. All sites are located on stable areas and near formerly water areas.

During palaeolithics ages, the location of lithic resources is very important for many occupations which were found near quartzite deposits, never far from the actual wadis.

During the Bronze Age, the vast necropolises are all located on the slopes overlooking old water areas: south of al-Kharj, it overlooks the paleo-lake. In the graben of the W d Nis , they overlook the river and are located around the paleolake. In the W d al-Rayh n, dozens of similar tombs were discovered during the geomorphological survey: they are all located on a slope overlooking the river.

Study prospects

To further understand the relationship between archaeological and geomorphological dynamics, environmental contexts should be studied throughout the Holocene.

-A systematic study of the luvial terraces, combined with OSL dates should bring up a chronology of the hydrological dynamics throughout the late Quaternary.

-A drilling campaign in the plain of al-Yam ma, associated with radiocarbon dates should allow us to reconstruct the dynamics of the Holocene inilling.

The diachronic approach of the results, coupled with the results of archaeological surveys will make it possible to create maps of "predictive archaeology" that can answer archaeological questions as essential as the location of Neolithic sites.

6/ Conclusion

This irst regional geomorphological study has allowed the creation of a geomorphological map. This study was conducted with several cartographic sources and an intensive ield survey.

Overall, it appears from this study that the Holocene dynamics are very low in the area, the slopes are stable and only affected by delation. The study of streams showed that their surface dynamics also are very low. The thickness of the Holocene alluvial plain conirms these low lows. Water resource is groundwater and through groundwater underlow, exceptionally on the surface.

The study of the past environmental dynamics is very important for the archaeological study of the area: it allows to understand the logic of implementation which eludes us today and helps to focus future archaeological surveys. -to the northwest of the site, under modern camel enclosures, the remains of a huge building, possibly being a former palace or an elite residential building, are visible on the ground. They have been mapped during the 2nd ield season. They would deserve to be protected and excavated.

-to the southwest of the site, near modern camel enclosures, a small trench has been done this season, showing the presence of islamic pottery workshops of uttermost importance. They attest a large scale pre-industrial production of pottery in Central Arabia that might have looded the market in the Peninsula during the Abbasid period. To protect this area and to excavate the remains would provide us with valuable information regarding the economic practices during the early Islamic period and regarding the commercial network within the Peninsula at that time. Therefore, we urge the SCTA on purchasing and protecting these areas so as to prevent the destruction of unique archaeological features in Central Arabia and to enable their exploration in the immediate future.

Restoring the mosque at al Yamāma

A restoration project for the mosque excavated at al-Yam ma has been proposed (pages 101-102) of the present report. It would be the irst step toward touristic development on the site of al-Yam ma. It includes the formation of specialists in Saudi Arabia. We call upon the SCTA's authorities to consider it and to inform us about eventual remarks and about the acceptance of the SCTA to inance this project.

  .............................................................. Building 1: the mosque (Area N6) ..............................................................................................E ........................................................................................................................... C B .................................................................................... P B .......................................................................................................................................... S B ............................................................................................................................. A B ......................................................................................................... T B ..................................................................................................................... T B ............................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................ T ............................................................................................................... C .................................................................................................................................................... and tectonic background ........................................................................................................ 2/ Topography ............................................................................................................................................... M ........................................................................................... H .................................................................................................... D C ................................................................................................................................................

  SaudiPart • al-aklab Abdallah (Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, Bisha) • AL-Ham d Abd al-Az z (Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, Riyadh -archaeologist) • AL-in Abd al-Az z (Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, Riyadh -archaeologist) • al-Qarn Awadh (Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, Riyadh -archaeologist) • AL-dawaysH Sul n (Koweït -archaeologist) • AL-ayr mid (Koweït -archaeologist) French Part • Dr Antoine CHABROL (École Française d'Athènes) -Geomorphologist • Guillaume Fortin (Université Paris IV Paris-Sorbonne, Master Student) -Geomorphologist • Prof. Eric FOUACHE (University Paris-Sorbonne, Abu Dhabi) -Geomorphologist • David Gandreau (CRAterre, Grenoble) -Restorer • Bruno Gavazzi (Université de Strasbourg, PhD student) -Geophisicist • Dr Hervé moncHot (Université Paris-Sorbonne, postdoctoral fellow Labex ResMed) -Archaeozoologist • Sébastien moriset (CRAterre, Grenoble) -Restorer • Dr Michel mouton (CNRS, Nanterre) -Archaeologist • Laetitia munduteGuy (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Master Student) -Archaeologist & drawer • Mathieu niveleau -Surveyor • Prof. Christian robin (CNRS, Ivry sur Seine -Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres) -Historian • Thomas saGory -Photographer • Dr Jérémie scHiettecatte (CNRS, Ivry sur Seine) -Archaeologist • Dr Pierre simeon (postdoctoral fellow, CNRS, Ivry sur Seine) -Archaeologist

Figure 1 -

 1 Figure 1 -Location oF the oasis oF aL-Kharj and its environmentaL context [©French-saudi archaeoLogicaL mission in Yam ma]

  Purpose of the 2nd season, programme, scheduleIn order to add to the current archaeological record, a Saudi-French expedition started work in al-Kharj area in September 2011 at the invitation of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities. This expedition aims to characterize the diverse prehistoric, protohistoric and Islamic archaeological remains as well as to illustrate the environmental context that made it possible for people to settle in such an arid region. The irst ield season (2011) was devoted to establishing an archaeological map of the oasis, and to the study of two signiicant sites: AK-22 (Palaeolithic) and al-Yam ma (Late Pre-Islamic/Early Islamic). The second season was devoted to the pursuing of the exploration of the site of al-Yam ma, also called al-Banna, close to the city of al-Kharj. It included: -The pursuing of Deep sounding 1 -The pursuing of the uncovering of the mosque -The pursuing of the topographic map -The pursuing of the geomagnetic survey -A geomorphological study of al-Kharj area -The processing of a restoration project of the mosque at al-Yam ma The second season of the Saudi-French mission in al-Yam ma has been carried out from November 11 to December 18, 2012. J. Schiettecatte arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, November 11. He stayed in Riyadh three days in order to discuss the issue of the 2nd season with the cultural counsellor of the French Embassy, oficials at SCTA and Prof. al-Ghazzi at King Saud University. On Wednesday, November 14, he drove to al-Kharj. He has been joined by three members of the French team (H. Monchot, L. Munduteguy, P. Siméon). They met the members of the Saudi team already present in al-Kharj (A. al-Aklab , A. al-Ham d, A.al-in , A. al-Qarn , S. al-Dawaysh and H. Al-Tayr ). On Friday, November 23, the French team increased its workforce by the arrival of B. Gavazzi, geophysicist, M. Mouton, archaeologist, M. Niveleau, surveyor, D. Gandreau and S. Moriset, restorers specialized in mudbrick architecture. On Thursday, November 29, three geomorphologists joined the French team: E. Fouache, A. Chabrol and G. Fortin. Finally, on Friday, December 7, T. Sagory, a photographer specialized in aerial picture (by kite and balloon) joined the team. Resuming the excavation of Building 1 («Mosque») by removing the illing set at the end of the irst season

Figure 1 :Figure 2 :Figure

 12 Figure 1: Database of the archaeological sites of al-Kharj oasis

Figure 8 :Figure 9 :

 89 Figure 8: Honeycomb-shaped structures in the central-eastern side of the site (Mathieu Niveleau -Saudi-French Archaeological Mission in al-Yam ma)

Figure 10 :

 10 Figure 10: General map of the site (Mathieu Niveleau -Saudi-French Archaeological Mission in al-Yam ma)

Figure 12 :

 12 Figure 12: The «Backpack» device

Figure 13 :

 13 Figure 13: The «Sledge» device

Figure 14 :

 14 Figure 14: The four investigated zones on a satellite image from Google-earth

Figure 16 :

 16 Figure 16: Combination of the 2011 and 2012 data for the zone within the fence Zone 2

Figure 17 :

 17 Figure 17: Map of the magnetic anomalies, zone 2

Figure 18 :Figure 19 :

 1819 Figure 18: Map of the magnetic anomalies, zone 3

Figure 21 :

 21 Figure 21: Plan of Building 1 and location of the working area (in white) [Plan: Mathieu Niveleau -Saudi-French archaeological mission in al-Yam ma]

Figure 22 :

 22 Figure 22: Aerial view of the columned hall (R.013) of Building 1 [Photo: Thomas Sagory Saudi-French archaeological mission in al-Yam ma]

Figure 23 :

 23 Figure 23: Building 1: section of the illing of the columned hall (R.013) (top) and superimposition of the loors in the central niche of W.006 (bottom).

Figure 24 :

 24 Figure 24: Building 1: Western row of olumns in R.013 and wall W.006 with its decorative niches.

Figure 25 :

 25 Figure 25: Location of Sounding 1

Figure 27 :Figure 28 :

 2728 Figure 27: Location of Sounding 3

Figure 29 :

 29 Figure 29: Sounding 3 : Kiln (R 068) -toward south

Figure 30 :

 30 Figure 30: Pottery sherds from Sounding 3 (top left: Y.206.1, category 1a; bottom left: Y.202.10, category 24; right: Y.202.1, category 1a)

Figure 32 .

 32 Figure 32. Fine cutmarks (incisions) on a phalanx 2 of a young camel.

Figure 33 .

 33 Figure 33. Dog atlas with cut marks (UF 053). (Dog drawing, Michel Coutureau & Vianney Forest, 1996, www.archaeozoo.org)

Figure 34 .

 34 Figure 34. Desert Hedgehog (Photo Yazeed Alsahli; www.yazeedalsahli.net © 2012).

Figure 35 .

 35 Figure 35. The desert hedgehog's mandible of al-Yamâma (Hedgehog drawing, M. Coutureau, 1997, www.archaeozoo. org)

Figure 36 :

 36 Figure 36: Geological units of Saudi Arabia (Grainger, 2007)

  37). The joint action of drainage and uplift of the crystalline basement in depth led to the formation of escarpments, the most important being faces of cuestas in the north, northwest and southwest of the oasis. The study area of the oasis is bounded in the west by a Jurassic mountain, the Jabal Tuwayq, through which lows the W d Nis from west to east inside grabens. The W d an fa comes from Riyad in the northwest, along the cuesta of the Jabal al-Jubayl mountain. This escarpment then forms the northern boundary of the oasis. Southwest, the W d al-Ayn comes from Jabal Tuwayq slopes then follow the escarpment of the Jabal al-Armuh mountain south of the oasis. These three main w d s reach the center of the oasis to form the W d Sahba, which crosses the whole oasis from west to east in the valley bounded by the Jabal Jubayl and Jabal al Armuh, then continue in the east in sands of ad-Dahna desert.

Figure 37 :

 37 Figure 37: Simpliied landform map of Saudi Arabia (Grainger, 2007)

Figure 39 :Figure 40 :

 3940 Figure 39: Vectorization of the maps (ArcGis® 10)

Figure 41 :

 41 Figure 41: Location of the ield-surveyed areas

Figure 42 :Figure 43 :

 4243 Figure 42 : «In-situ» thermoclastic erosion and incision of the talwegs

Figure 44 :

 44 Figure 44 : Low alluvial terrace in the wells

Figure 45 :

 45 Figure 45: Pictures of the palaeolakes. The low topography clearly indicates the palaeo-banks

  of valuable remains at al Yamāma by enlarging the fenceOutside the fenced area of the archaeolological site at al-Yam ma, two areas yielded evidence of remains of outmost importance (ig. 51):

Figure 51 :

 51 Figure 51: Areas to be fenced around the archaeological site of al-Yam ma

  • King Saud University, Riyadh • French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paris • French Embassy, Riyadh • Centre National de la Recherche Scientiique, Paris • UMR 8167 « Orient et Méditerranée », Ivry sur Seine • Agence Nationale pour la Recherche, Paris • Université Paris IV Paris-Sorbonne • Labex ResMed (Religion et Société en Méditerranée), Université Paris-Sorbonne • École et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre, Institut de Physique du Globe de Strasbourg

sheep goat Gazella sp Oryx leucoryx Bovid Bos taurus Equus asinus Carnivores Canis lupus f familiaris Vulpes sp Felis silvestris f familiaris Mellivora capensis

  Tab Number of animal remains from the various levels of the sounding Excavation W weight in grams Dro Camel Dromedary Ovi Ovicaprid sheep goat Gaz Gazelle Bos cattle Equid donkey D horse H Hed Hedgehog Bird Eggshell of ostrich O Chicken C Indeterminate I Micro microfauna rodent reptilia Agamidae LM Large sized Mammal MM Medium sized Mammal SM Small sized Mammal Ind indeterminate

	UF	Type of deposit structure	W	N		Number of identified specimens
	UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF UF	Sand deposit collapsed mudbricks Collapse Accumulation post abandonment of aeolian sand Pit filling Pit filling Accumulation between two occupations Collapse filling a niche in the wall Filling between two walls Aeolian sand deposit Occupation Accumulation Collapse over Aeolian deposit Aeolian sand deposit Circulation Accumulation Collapse Accumulation post abandonment of aeolian sand Aeolian deposit Collapsed walls Accumulation above occupation Aeolian sand deposit Accumulation above occupation Aeolian sand deposit Accumulation above occupation Aeolian sand deposit Aeolian sand deposit Accumulation in a gullying area Accumulation between two occupations Collapse layer upper part of wall and circulation level Collapse layer W over circulation level Collapse mudbrick North W Accumulation South W Accumulation mixed with fragment of mudbricks Aeolian sand accumulation Loose sand with an irregular layer of mud fragments on the top Occupation remains in secondary deposit Eroded destruction Aeolian deposit and secondary deposits of occupation Fire place Sand and mudbricks fragments Destruction Aeolian sand Occupation Occupation in a secondary context Aeolian occupation Aeolian sand Occupation Sand accumulation Occupation Sand accumulation Occupation		Dro Cap Gaz Bos Equid Dog Fox Hed H D	Bird Micro LH MH SH O I C	Ind
		Total
		AL YAMAMA	BUILDING	BUILDING	TOTAL
		Herbivores Camelus dromedarius Ovicaprid Birds Gallus gallus f domesticus Struthio camelus Pterocles sp Bird indet Insectivora cf Paraechinus Reptilia Urostamyx sp Molluscs	NISP	NISP	NISP	NISP	NISP
		Small mammal Medium mammal Large mammal Unidentified Total
		Tab Species list from al Yamama NISP Number of identified Specimens NISP only for the identifiable element excavations Sector N O

Geomorphological study of al-Kharj oasis

  By Eric Fouache (Université de Paris-Sorbonne, Institut Universitaire de France, Vice Chancelier de l'Université Paris-Sorbonne Abou Dhabi, UMR ENeC 8385.) Guillaume Fortin (Université Paris-Sorbonne, Master Espaces, Dynamiques des Milieux et Risques) Antoine Chabrol (Membre de l'Ecole Française d'Athènes, Université Paris 1)

Team on the ield -December 9, 2012

Figure 11: Plan of Building 1, «the mosque» (Mathieu Niveleau -Saudi-French Archaeological Mission in al-Yam ma)

Figure 26 : Aerial picture of Sounding 1 (Thomas Sagory -Saudi-French Archaeological Mission in al-Yam ma)

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank these institutions most warmly for their support. We are also most grateful to people who put their trust in our work and did their best to make ieldwork possible and easier in Riyadh and Paris: HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz (President of Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities [SCTA] and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SCTA), Prof. Ali al-Ghabban (Vice-President of SCTA for Antiquities and Museums, Riyadh), Jamal Omar (Head of the Research and Excavation Centre, SCTA, Riyadh), Jean-Louis Laveille (Cultural advisor, French Embassy in Riyadh), Pierre Vincent (cooperation attaché, French Embassy in Riyadh), Marie-Véronique Diamant (CNRS, Ivry), Magali Picone (Univ. Paris IV).

b

Coarse Greenish ware Medium greenish ware; medium to thick wall; medium to large black or red grits, some with few chaff temper ; some with yellow exploded grits. Possible tournassage.

Incised decoration: horizontal lines, wavy lines, hatched patterns

Coarse Reddish Buff ware Whitish slip

Well fired buff to reddish ware; medium to thick wall; few medium black (red) grits; Plane or whitish to greenish surfaces; rare slip (black) Incised decoration, and combed decoration: horizontal lines, wavy lines, hatched patterns The common ware of this industry is the fabric 35.

Common Painted ware

Well fired buff to reddish ware; medium to thin wall; few medium black (red) grits; Whitish to greenish surfaces Painted decoration in red to brown: criss-cross pattern (ca. Rumeilah)

Common Orange Red ware

Well fired orange-red to buff ware; medium to thin wall; few thin black & red grits and thin sandy temper. Plane surfaces; the same ware with whitish slip = 35; same ware with red brown black slip = 36

Fine Whitish surface with Red Slipped ware Reddish ware (some with grey core); medium to thin wall; few medium black (red) grits; not clinky, medium fired Partially red slipped on a whitish external surface Grooved wall; horizontal incisions Possibly same industry than = 13 (thicker and bicolor slip) and = 35 (without any red slip)

Red ware with abundant white inclusions

Well fired red ware; thin to thick wall; some with grey core; few medium black or red grits and very thin white inclusions very densely distributed; the thicker vessels have white lime medium grits on the surface; very abundant yellow exploded grits on the surfaces External surface plane or with whitish wash. Plane or external whitish surface.

Sandy Red ware

Well fired dense red to light brown ware; medium thick wall; thin black sandy temper very abundant.

Yellow buff to light brown surfaces Close to Sandy Red coarse ware = 8

Sandy Red coarse ware

Well fired dense red ware; medium to thick wall; black and white sandy temper very abundant, thin and medium; yellow white inclusions and exploded grits Yellowish to whitish external surface (or plane); Rare incised decoration: lines and patterns filled with points Close to Sandy Red ware = 7

Layla ware

Very well fired clinky grey black ware, some with reddish core; medium wall, rarely thick; scratchy surfaces, some with deep purple stains Combed and incised decoration in a large diversity of patterns Same industry = 10

Layla ware overfired

Very well fired clinky grey black ware, some with reddish core; medium wall, rarely thick; surfaces glossy or roughly vitrified, deep purple stains. Same industry = 9

Red Brown ware

Medium to well fired brown, red or buff ware; slightly smoothy, not clinky; medium to thick wall; small red grits and few very thin whitish inclusions Reddish (black) slip Incised decoration of alternated strips of zig-zag and horizontal lines

Medium Buff ware

Well levigated buff brown ware; medium thick walls; well fired but not clinky; thin sandy temper, not visible, sections slightly scratchy, vegetal prints; wheel turned prints.

Black striped ware

Medium fired buff to light brown ware; thin to medium thick walls; thin air cavities and few vegetal prints; very thin mineral temper red or black Yellowish to white surfaces Red slip in the internal surface (rare external) with irregular strips in black (marble effect).

No parallels found at the Islamic periods (A. Rougeulles / H. Renel).

Grey temper ware

Well levigated buff brown to reddish (with grey core) ware; medium thick walls; well fired but not clinky; grey temper given an ashy aspect around small cavities Incised decoration of alternated strips of zig-zag and horizontal lines (idem Red Brown ware)

Black and Red ware

Medium fired reddish ware with large grey black core; medium to thick wall; mineral and abundant chaff temper. Rough plane surfaces; low wheel turned ? Often with a cream wash outside.

Coarse Grey ware

Well fired grey ware; thin to thick wall; irregular plane rough surfaces, some partially reddish; abundant medium whitish inclusions and white exploded grits. Low wheel turned ?

Cooking ware

Handmade, medium fired ware with abundant gritty temper, irregular sections, irregular coarse surface often hand water planed a -deep brown ware, very thick angular white grits b -sandy black & white medium grits c -black to grey ware with white grits, exploded yellow inclusions

Red Cooking ware

Handmade, medium fired red ware to grey core; medium thick wall; grey sandy temper and chaff temper; irregular covering streaks on the surface Light red slip or barbotine.

Coarse chaff sandy temper

Medium fired yellow greenish ware (light buff core); thick wall; the clay is stratified with thin empty spaces; sandy temper and vegetal prints Plane surfaces All fragments are from large size containers and some possibly from tanur walls.

Blue and Green Glazed ware

Yellow to light buff well levigated ware; medium to thick wall Green to blue glazed surfaces Relief decorations: stepped horizontal lines

Islamic Glazed wares

Abbasid glazed

Western Amphorae

"It looks like a late Roman amphora, but I don't think it's the Gaza one which tends to be brown and fairly soft, quite porous. If anything, it might be the one that is called Palestinian. That tends to be orange and sandy with some limestone (yours seems to have some limestone even in the break)" (R. Tomber)

Others

Hadrami?

Thick Black ware

Medium to well fired red, deep grey or brown ware; thick wall; scratchy clay with many air inclusions, and a few medium red and black grits Grey external (and internal) surface Ondulated wall, thick incised decorations (horizontal lines, pressions)

Sandy Yellow ware

Well fired yellow buff ware; medium thick wall; very dense sandy temper Plane surfaces or slightly clearer

Sandy orange torpedo jars

Very well fired light orange to brown ware; medium thick wall; dense thin black sandy temper; slight finger pressions on the internal surface

Dense Orange Red Ware

Medium thick walls, well levigated, clinky, red orange ware. Very thin mineral sandy temper. Light whitish buff wash, covering partly the surfaces Incised comb decoration

Pale Grey Ware

Medium thick walls, scratchy surfaces, light grey ware, wheel streaks inside. Fine sandy temper, rare exploded grits, some medium black grits Outside surface scratchy and more deep grey

Grey slipped Pale Grey Ware

Medium thick walls, scratchy section, light grey ware to pale buff and lightly pink. Fine sandy temper, rare exploded grits and some brown inclusions Light wheel streaks, well fired. Mat light grey wash inside and outside, or a mat reddish slip.

Whitish Slipped Coarse Grey Ware

Medium to thick walls, well fired grey ware not dense. Scratchy section, sandy temper, black angular grits and very abundant thin white inclusions, some exploded grits. Pale greenish cream wash outside.

White glazed Ware

Fine yellowish ware well levigated, medium fired no visible temper. White uniform glazed.

UF 20 ? (au pied extérieur du mur de la mosquée au nord). Tin glazed bowls that can be dated from 835 AD onwards to about late 9th in this case (Kennet 2004, IBTIN of the Samarra horizon)

Clinky Handmade

Thin clinky grey to brown ware. Hand made or slow whell turned. Grey surfaces Thin sandy temper very abundant, and some exploded grits Whitish slip Inside surface with hand prints and wrinkled.

Bahla Ware

Monochrome Lustre Ware Abbasid The dromedary (Arabian camel)

The dromedary (Camelus dromaderius) with sheep/goat is in number of identiied remains the species most represented in al-Yam ma (N=479). From Antiquity onwards, the dromedary has played an important role in human exploitation of desert region and it's so not surprising to iund camel bones in almost all stratigraphic units (Tab. 1).

Apart from the third phalanx and some carpal bones all skeleton parts were identiied among the bone assemblage (i.e., head, trunk, forelimb, hindlimb and extremities) (Fig. 31). The teeth are very weathered and so rare among the bone assemblage that the estimation of the age of the slaughtered camels is delicate. Some unfused bones indicate the presence of some juvenile. As no age data for the development of the postcranial skeleton in camels are available in the literature, we have used the data for slowly maturing from the 19th and early 20th century cattle breeds (von den Driesch and Obermaier, 2007: Tab. 6).

Nevertheless the presence of old individuals suggests that they have been rejected as such after their death, such as at the base of some walls or in illing area (midden). The several uses of the camel are a dietary element, a beast of burden, a source of raw material for artefact manufacture and a cultural symbol [START_REF] Studer | Camel use in the Petra Region, Jordan: 1st century AD[END_REF].

3/ Methodology of the geomorphological map

The geomorphological study and the general map is based on a cartographic analysis as well as exploration and ield surveys. All data were entered into one same Geographic Information System (ArcGis 10, UTM WGS 84 system). Nevertheless, none of this could be done if these sites are not protected from the threat of an imminent destruction. During our survey of the oasis of al-Kharj, it appeared that some of the archaeological sites mentioned in the late 1970's or in the 1990's had been destroyed by the ongoing urbanization, industrialization and agricultural practices in the area. Moreover, presently, two archaeological sites are under the immediate threat of this process:

-the qanat at Ayn Farzân (ig. 46) ; -the Bronze-Age necropolis at al-Afja (ig. 47-48). These two sites are unique, by their location, the scientiic information they hold and the touristic potential they have. Therefore, we urge the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities to make their best to: -acquire the plot of land where these sites are located (ig. 49-50).

-fence these areas in order to prevent destruction, looting, or damaging by rubbish deposit.