Publications
The Tropical Turn: Agricultural Innovation in the Ancient Middle East and the Mediterranean
Agricultural innovation in the ancient Middle East and Mediterranean was significantly influenced by the long-distance dispersal of seven cultivated plants from tropical-subtropical South Asia, including rice, cotton, citrus fruits, eastern cucurbits, lotus, taro, and sissoo tree. This study, based on an interdisciplinary synthesis of archaeobotanical, archaeological, ethnobotanical, and historical-philological evidence, reveals that these plants were introduced between the mid-fourth millennium BCE and early centuries CE via maritime routes through the Persian/Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea. Philological comparisons, such as Sanskrit kārpāsa (cotton) and Akkadian karpassu, along with archaeobotanical findings, indicate that cotton was cultivated in Assyria for royal-palatial use by the 8th century BCE and in Bahrain before the 9th century BCE. Rice, another significant find, migrated from South Asia to Mesopotamia, likely as a foodstuff for merchants, but its cultivation was limited due to irrigation constraints and competition with endemic crops like flax and wheat. The study also challenges previous assumptions about the absence of citrus fruits in ancient Mesopotamia, suggesting that citron (Citrus medica) was present by the second millennium BCE, though its identification remains debated.
3D Documentation Towards Heritage Conservation: A Rapid Mapping Approach Applied to Bahrain Forts
A novel integrated approach using UAV photogrammetry and portable systems has been successfully validated for 3D documentation of cultural heritage sites, addressing challenges related to accessibility and material diversity. This method, applied to the Fort component of Qal'at al-Bahraindemonstrates its potential for generating high-accuracy metric data crucial for conservation decisions. The study highlights the approach's repeatability and applicability across similar contexts, offering a sustainable solution for remote and onsite heritage documentation. This work contributes to advancing digital preservation techniques for complex archaeological sites.
P.V. Glob – og oldtidshovedstaden Dilmun på Bahrain og den danske Golfekspedition
The Danish archaeological expedition led by Peter Vilhelm Glob (1953–) uncovered the ancient capital of Dilmun and its surrounding harbor on Bahrain's north coast, a site now recognized as Qal’at al-Bahrain. This discovery, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, traces urban development from 2200 BCE to the construction of the Bahrain Fort in the 15th century CE. The expedition, initially a collaboration between Aarhus Museum and Aarhus University, expanded across the Arabian Gulf region, contributing foundational research still supported by Moesgaard Museum and regional institutions. Key findings include Dilmun's significance as a historical hub, with artifacts now central to national museums in the Gulf.
Remembering the Dead in the Ancient Near East: Recent Contributions from Bioarchaeology and Mortuary Archaeology
A multi-disciplinary approach integrating bioarchaeological data with traditional mortuary analysis reveals deeper insights into ancient Near Eastern burial practices and societal structures. The study, focusing on sites like Qal’at al-Bahrain, demonstrates that combining skeletal and dental evidence with cultural, historical, and textual sources provides a richer understanding of how societies remembered and commemorated the dead. Key findings include evidence of population movement, ethnic interrelationships, and the treatment of disabled individuals, such as a woman from Early Dilmun period Bahrain who was buried with elaborate grave goods despite physical disabilities. The research highlights the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration to overcome historical gaps in mortuary interpretation.
Bermerkungen zer Datierung und Interpretation kassitischer Siegelthemen unter Berücksichtigung interaktiver Begegnungen mit der Dilmun Glyptik
New chronological standards for Kassite seals from the 15th century BCE have been established, revealing early origins of the First Group and providing insights into the dating of seal inscriptions. The study also highlights the cultural influence between Babylonia and Dilmun, suggesting that antithetical compositions from Dilmun glyptic may have served as models for the Second Group Kassite iconography. Additionally, defined attributes in both Dilmunite and Kassite glyptic are identified as code forms of the god Enki, offering a deeper understanding of religious symbolism during this period.
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