The genesis of oases in southeast Arabia: Rethinking current theories and models

Abstract

In South East Arabia (Sultanate of Oman and United Arab Emirates), oases are irrigated gardens characterised by intensive and mixed farming: date palms form a canopy under which other crops are protected from the sun’s rays and the heat. The origin of this agrosystem and its impact on the historical trajectory of Arabian populations are still much debated issues. Some scholars have suggested that oases developed as soon as agriculture was introduced into the region, at the beginning of the Early Bronze Age (3200–2000 BC). The intensification of trade with neighbouring civilisations of Mesopotamia, Iran and Indus seems to have ignited the spark for the adoption of agriculture in Southeast Arabia. According to the existing theories, oases then emerged rapidly and were a means of adapting agriculture to the arid environment of this region. This agrosystem remained unchanged in its fundamental principles until the present day. This theory, however, denies the diachronic dimension of Southeast Arabian landscapes. The present chapter therefore aims to re-evaluate the data and reassess current theories of an Early Bronze Age origin for oases. An alternative development model, based on the available data, will be proposed. It is suggested that the development of oases corresponds to a long process with several steps resulting from environmental changes, technological innovation and socio-economic factors.