Michele Degli Esposti
Biographic Data
| ID | 4121812 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Michele Degli Esposti |
| GIVEN NAMES | Michele Degli |
| FAMILY NAME | Esposti |
| SIGNATURE | DEGLI ESPOSTI M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7544-0735 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 22 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 22 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2011 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Beyond pigment
This study presents the results of a multi-analytical strategy implemented to investigate the composition of pigments preserved within the shells of marine bivalves recovered from six archaeological sites from the Late Bronze Age to the 6th-7th century CE in the present-day United Arab Emirates. The analysed bivalve specimens contain greenish or blackish materials in the shell interior and according to current archaeological interpretations they …
Evaluating Subsurface Risk for Archaeological Heritage Through Ground-Penetrating Radar Surveys
We present the results of a Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey conducted at the archaeological site of Bisya and Salūt (Sultanate of Oman), aimed at assessing archaeological risk associated with the planned infrastructural development of the site. The survey employed a dual-frequency GPR system with a survey rugged cart to adapt to the varying conditions of the area. The survey was designed around a scale-adaptive grid strategy, across three s…
Tell Abraq
Tell Abraq (United Arab Emirates) is a key site in south-east Arabian archaeology, evidencing over three millennia of continuous human occupation. Recent discoveries highlight its inclusion in trade networks across the Persian Gulf and beyond and illustrate how the nature of the site changed through time
Facing Early Bronze Age climate change in South East Arabia
Studies concerning the human response to changing climate in the arid region of South East Arabia are currently scarce and rarely based on geoarchaeological data. The detailed geoarchaeological study of the sedimentary filling of ditches, channels and wells at the Bronze Age tower site of Salūt-ST1, in central Oman, provides the opportunity to start filling this lacuna. The data, collected with a combination of field observation and thin section …
A First Glance at Pre‐Islamic Pigments in Shells From Salūt (Sultanate of Oman)
Marine shells containing greenish or blackish pigments are frequently found at pre‐Islamic archaeological sites in Southeast Arabia and are generally interpreted as ancient eye makeup, representing a long‐standing tradition that continues to the present day. While these ‘cosmetic’ shells are primarily found in funerary contexts, their presence in residential areas suggests broader use within the community. Although relatively abundant, these shel…
Bronze Age to Early Iron Age Water Harvesting and Management in the Ancient Oasis of Salūt (Bisya, Sultanate of Oman)
During the 3rd millennium BC, a series of oases located along the western foothills of the al-Hajar Mountains saw the establishment of intensive human occupation, associated with the construction of large buildings (the so-called “towers”) and residential structures. These settlements were supported by the onset of agriculture and their development was often associated with and made possible by the introduction of substantial water management sys…
Iron Age Metalworking at Masafi-1? A Reconsideration of the Metal Hoards Discovered in the Collective Buildings
Excavations in a series of superimposed Iron Age II collective buildings located at Masafi (Fujairah, UAE) by the French Archaeological Mission in the UAE allowed the discovery of two deposits of copper-base metal items buried in two jars. Copper smelting played a major role in the economy and the society of the region and consistent evidence suggest that it also had a symbolic importance. A summary of the archaeometallurgical study of the items …
A new Dilmun-related seal from Umm al-Quwain (U.A.E.)
Excavation of a late 2nd–1st millennium BC necropolis of semi-subterranean collective graves at Abraq 2 in Umm al-Quwain, U.A.E., unearthed a remarkable collection of artifacts, including a distinctive domed stamp seal. This discovery sheds light on cultural exchange and the adoption of artistic motifs in Southeast Arabia. The seal’s morphology and iconography display elements associated with the Dilmun culture, centered in Bahrain during the lat…
Domestic food practice and vessel‐use at Salūt‐ST1, central Oman, during the Umm an‐Nar period
Investigations into everyday food practices during the Umm an‐Nar period (c.2700–2000 bc ) in the Oman Peninsula are limited. We studied lipid residues in pottery from Salūt‐ST1, an Umm an‐Nar stone tower in central Oman, to understand domestic practices and vessel use in locally‐produced Sandy Wares, regionally‐produced Fine Red Omani Wares and imported Indus Black‐Slipped Jars between c. 2460–2150 bc . Degraded animal fats were found in a major…
Copper‐alloy figurines from Tell Abraq (Umm al‐Quwain, UAE) and the circulation of Hellenistic motifs in late pre‐Islamic Arabia (300 bc –300 ad )
Four copper‐base figurines recently discovered at the site of Tell Abraq (Umm al‐Quwain, UAE) illustrate the circulation of allochthonous artistic motifs across the Arabian Peninsula during the late pre‐Islamic period (broadly, 300 bc –300 ad ). It is argued that these motifs were adopted by the local communities even in the absence of a full understanding of their genuine meaning and consequently, possibly adapted for the representation of local…
Iron Age basketry in South East Arabia
Archaeological Survey of Sīnīya Island, Umm al-Quwain
The preliminary results of a comprehensive survey of Sīnīya Island in the Khawr al-Bayḍāʾ of Umm al-Quwain are presented here. The onset of human occupation remains to be confirmed, with scarce evidence for limited activity in the late pre-Islamic period (LPI, c. 300 BC – AD 300). The first major phase of occupation dates to the seventh and eighth centuries (early Islamic period) when a monastery and settlement were established in the north-east …
About two seal‐impressed jars from Tell Abraq (Emirate of Umm al‐Quwain). New evidence for intercultural networks in the lower Arabian Gulf in the late 2nd – beginning of the 1st millennium BC
Ongoing excavations at Tell Abraq (Emirate of Umm al‐Quwain, U.A.E.) are revealing new aspects of this multiperiod site, which was occupied from c. 2500 BC to 300 AD. Together with substantial architecture dated to the 2nd and 1st millennia BC, relevant assemblages of archaeological materials are being collected and dated to different phases of the site’s life. Among this material, exceptional is the discovery of two jars bearing the impression o…
A note on some Iron Age inscribed sherds from the ancient Oasis of Salut
Animals and Ceremonies
Some Reflections on the Ancient Metallurgy of Sumhuram (Sultanate of Oman)
Multidisciplinary research on the metallurgy-related items and features from the ancient South Arabian harbour of Sumhuram, in southern Oman, have shed light on ancient copper and iron production and use at the site, pointing out what appears to be a definitely unusual practice in particular for what concerns copper alloying. In this paper, the archaeometallurgical data are summarised and discussed with the aim of showing that the existence of a …
Rock art survey in the ancient oasis of Salūt (northern Sultanate of Oman)
The systematic survey of petroglyphs in the area of the ancient oasis of Salūt, in central Oman, highlighted a rich repertoire of representations that are here discussed against the background of Arabian rock art in general. The region displays an extremely rich number of engravings along the slopes of the Jabal Hammah, north of the main site of Salūt. The majority of the petroglyphs find abundant fitting comparisons in the region. The notable ex…
Water and power in South Arabia
The ancient port city of Sumhuram (Dhofar Governorate, Sultanate of Oman) has been the focus of over 20 years of research by the Italian Mission to Oman (IMTO), University of Pisa, in collaboration with the Office of the Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan for Cultural Affairs (Muscat‐Salalah, Sultanate of Oman). Excavation has revealed most of the town layout, leading to the identification of several buildings, alleyways, squares and workshops, am…
A first note on the excavations at UAQ38, a new Neolithic site in the Emirate of Umm al‐Quwain
At the end of 2018, the first season of excavation was carried out at the shell midden site of UAQ38. The site occupies the top of a sand dune not far from UAQ36 and UAQ2, two other recently investigated Neolithic shell middens. Several well‐stratified anthropogenic levels were excavated at UAQ38, which can be dated mainly to the 5th millennium BC, although the recorded artefacts suggest a possible older date for the lowest levels. Food waste, po…
Grave‐goods from the long chamber tomb “Dibba 76/1” (Fujairah, UAE)
The aim of this paper is to present the rich set of finds collected inside the grave Dibba 76/1, in the Emirate of Fujairah, during a season of rescue excavation conducted under the direction of S. Ali Hassan in 1994. The recovered grave‐goods include pottery, soft‐stone vessels, metal finds, personal ornaments, coins, and other items. Although comparable with other corpuses of material excavated in south‐eastern Arabia, the material of Dibba 76/…
Age, palaeoenvironment, and preservation of prehistoric petroglyphs on a boulder in the oasis of Salut (northern Sultanate of Oman)
Ancient Metallurgy at Sumhuram (Sultanate of Oman)
This paper focuses on the identification of alloys and the manufacturing techniques used for inscribed bronze vessels from Sumhuram (modern Khor Rori, Sultanate of Oman). A group of 19 fragments (dating back to the first to second century ad), thought to belong to the same inscribed vessel, were investigated with the aim of identifying the manufacturing process. The fragments were analysed by scanning electron microscopy with both energy-dispersi…
Age, palaeoenvironment, and preservation of prehistoric petroglyphs on a boulder in the oasis of Salut (northern Sultanate of Oman)
Rock art survey in the ancient oasis of Salūt (northern Sultanate of Oman)
The systematic survey of petroglyphs in the area of the ancient oasis of Salūt, in central Oman, highlighted a rich repertoire of representations that are here discussed against the background of Arabian rock art in general. The region displays an extremely rich number of engravings along the slopes of the Jabal Hammah, north of the main site of Salūt. The majority of the petroglyphs find abundant fitting comparisons in the region. The notable ex…
Grave‐goods from the long chamber tomb “Dibba 76/1” (Fujairah, UAE)
The aim of this paper is to present the rich set of finds collected inside the grave Dibba 76/1, in the Emirate of Fujairah, during a season of rescue excavation conducted under the direction of S. Ali Hassan in 1994. The recovered grave‐goods include pottery, soft‐stone vessels, metal finds, personal ornaments, coins, and other items. Although comparable with other corpuses of material excavated in south‐eastern Arabia, the material of Dibba 76/…
Copper‐alloy figurines from Tell Abraq (Umm al‐Quwain, UAE) and the circulation of Hellenistic motifs in late pre‐Islamic Arabia (300 bc –300 ad )
Four copper‐base figurines recently discovered at the site of Tell Abraq (Umm al‐Quwain, UAE) illustrate the circulation of allochthonous artistic motifs across the Arabian Peninsula during the late pre‐Islamic period (broadly, 300 bc –300 ad ). It is argued that these motifs were adopted by the local communities even in the absence of a full understanding of their genuine meaning and consequently, possibly adapted for the representation of local…
Bronze Age to Early Iron Age Water Harvesting and Management in the Ancient Oasis of Salūt (Bisya, Sultanate of Oman)
During the 3rd millennium BC, a series of oases located along the western foothills of the al-Hajar Mountains saw the establishment of intensive human occupation, associated with the construction of large buildings (the so-called “towers”) and residential structures. These settlements were supported by the onset of agriculture and their development was often associated with and made possible by the introduction of substantial water management sys…
A first note on the excavations at UAQ38, a new Neolithic site in the Emirate of Umm al‐Quwain
At the end of 2018, the first season of excavation was carried out at the shell midden site of UAQ38. The site occupies the top of a sand dune not far from UAQ36 and UAQ2, two other recently investigated Neolithic shell middens. Several well‐stratified anthropogenic levels were excavated at UAQ38, which can be dated mainly to the 5th millennium BC, although the recorded artefacts suggest a possible older date for the lowest levels. Food waste, po…
Ancient Metallurgy at Sumhuram (Sultanate of Oman)
This paper focuses on the identification of alloys and the manufacturing techniques used for inscribed bronze vessels from Sumhuram (modern Khor Rori, Sultanate of Oman). A group of 19 fragments (dating back to the first to second century ad), thought to belong to the same inscribed vessel, were investigated with the aim of identifying the manufacturing process. The fragments were analysed by scanning electron microscopy with both energy-dispersi…
Ancient Metallurgy at Sumhuram (Sultanate of Oman)
This paper focuses on the identification of alloys and the manufacturing techniques used for inscribed bronze vessels from Sumhuram (modern Khor Rori, Sultanate of Oman). A group of 19 fragments (dating back to the first to second century ad), thought to belong to the same inscribed vessel, were investigated with the aim of identifying the manufacturing process. The fragments were analysed by scanning electron microscopy with both energy-dispersi…
A first note on the excavations at UAQ38, a new Neolithic site in the Emirate of Umm al‐Quwain
At the end of 2018, the first season of excavation was carried out at the shell midden site of UAQ38. The site occupies the top of a sand dune not far from UAQ36 and UAQ2, two other recently investigated Neolithic shell middens. Several well‐stratified anthropogenic levels were excavated at UAQ38, which can be dated mainly to the 5th millennium BC, although the recorded artefacts suggest a possible older date for the lowest levels. Food waste, po…
Grave‐goods from the long chamber tomb “Dibba 76/1” (Fujairah, UAE)
The aim of this paper is to present the rich set of finds collected inside the grave Dibba 76/1, in the Emirate of Fujairah, during a season of rescue excavation conducted under the direction of S. Ali Hassan in 1994. The recovered grave‐goods include pottery, soft‐stone vessels, metal finds, personal ornaments, coins, and other items. Although comparable with other corpuses of material excavated in south‐eastern Arabia, the material of Dibba 76/…
Age, palaeoenvironment, and preservation of prehistoric petroglyphs on a boulder in the oasis of Salut (northern Sultanate of Oman)
Some Reflections on the Ancient Metallurgy of Sumhuram (Sultanate of Oman)
Multidisciplinary research on the metallurgy-related items and features from the ancient South Arabian harbour of Sumhuram, in southern Oman, have shed light on ancient copper and iron production and use at the site, pointing out what appears to be a definitely unusual practice in particular for what concerns copper alloying. In this paper, the archaeometallurgical data are summarised and discussed with the aim of showing that the existence of a …
Rock art survey in the ancient oasis of Salūt (northern Sultanate of Oman)
The systematic survey of petroglyphs in the area of the ancient oasis of Salūt, in central Oman, highlighted a rich repertoire of representations that are here discussed against the background of Arabian rock art in general. The region displays an extremely rich number of engravings along the slopes of the Jabal Hammah, north of the main site of Salūt. The majority of the petroglyphs find abundant fitting comparisons in the region. The notable ex…
Water and power in South Arabia
The ancient port city of Sumhuram (Dhofar Governorate, Sultanate of Oman) has been the focus of over 20 years of research by the Italian Mission to Oman (IMTO), University of Pisa, in collaboration with the Office of the Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan for Cultural Affairs (Muscat‐Salalah, Sultanate of Oman). Excavation has revealed most of the town layout, leading to the identification of several buildings, alleyways, squares and workshops, am…
A note on some Iron Age inscribed sherds from the ancient Oasis of Salut
Animals and Ceremonies
Iron Age basketry in South East Arabia
Archaeological Survey of Sīnīya Island, Umm al-Quwain
The preliminary results of a comprehensive survey of Sīnīya Island in the Khawr al-Bayḍāʾ of Umm al-Quwain are presented here. The onset of human occupation remains to be confirmed, with scarce evidence for limited activity in the late pre-Islamic period (LPI, c. 300 BC – AD 300). The first major phase of occupation dates to the seventh and eighth centuries (early Islamic period) when a monastery and settlement were established in the north-east …
About two seal‐impressed jars from Tell Abraq (Emirate of Umm al‐Quwain). New evidence for intercultural networks in the lower Arabian Gulf in the late 2nd – beginning of the 1st millennium BC
Ongoing excavations at Tell Abraq (Emirate of Umm al‐Quwain, U.A.E.) are revealing new aspects of this multiperiod site, which was occupied from c. 2500 BC to 300 AD. Together with substantial architecture dated to the 2nd and 1st millennia BC, relevant assemblages of archaeological materials are being collected and dated to different phases of the site’s life. Among this material, exceptional is the discovery of two jars bearing the impression o…
Copper‐alloy figurines from Tell Abraq (Umm al‐Quwain, UAE) and the circulation of Hellenistic motifs in late pre‐Islamic Arabia (300 bc –300 ad )
Four copper‐base figurines recently discovered at the site of Tell Abraq (Umm al‐Quwain, UAE) illustrate the circulation of allochthonous artistic motifs across the Arabian Peninsula during the late pre‐Islamic period (broadly, 300 bc –300 ad ). It is argued that these motifs were adopted by the local communities even in the absence of a full understanding of their genuine meaning and consequently, possibly adapted for the representation of local…
Iron Age Metalworking at Masafi-1? A Reconsideration of the Metal Hoards Discovered in the Collective Buildings
Excavations in a series of superimposed Iron Age II collective buildings located at Masafi (Fujairah, UAE) by the French Archaeological Mission in the UAE allowed the discovery of two deposits of copper-base metal items buried in two jars. Copper smelting played a major role in the economy and the society of the region and consistent evidence suggest that it also had a symbolic importance. A summary of the archaeometallurgical study of the items …
A new Dilmun-related seal from Umm al-Quwain (U.A.E.)
Excavation of a late 2nd–1st millennium BC necropolis of semi-subterranean collective graves at Abraq 2 in Umm al-Quwain, U.A.E., unearthed a remarkable collection of artifacts, including a distinctive domed stamp seal. This discovery sheds light on cultural exchange and the adoption of artistic motifs in Southeast Arabia. The seal’s morphology and iconography display elements associated with the Dilmun culture, centered in Bahrain during the lat…
Domestic food practice and vessel‐use at Salūt‐ST1, central Oman, during the Umm an‐Nar period
Investigations into everyday food practices during the Umm an‐Nar period (c.2700–2000 bc ) in the Oman Peninsula are limited. We studied lipid residues in pottery from Salūt‐ST1, an Umm an‐Nar stone tower in central Oman, to understand domestic practices and vessel use in locally‐produced Sandy Wares, regionally‐produced Fine Red Omani Wares and imported Indus Black‐Slipped Jars between c. 2460–2150 bc . Degraded animal fats were found in a major…
Evaluating Subsurface Risk for Archaeological Heritage Through Ground-Penetrating Radar Surveys
We present the results of a Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey conducted at the archaeological site of Bisya and Salūt (Sultanate of Oman), aimed at assessing archaeological risk associated with the planned infrastructural development of the site. The survey employed a dual-frequency GPR system with a survey rugged cart to adapt to the varying conditions of the area. The survey was designed around a scale-adaptive grid strategy, across three s…
Tell Abraq
Tell Abraq (United Arab Emirates) is a key site in south-east Arabian archaeology, evidencing over three millennia of continuous human occupation. Recent discoveries highlight its inclusion in trade networks across the Persian Gulf and beyond and illustrate how the nature of the site changed through time
Facing Early Bronze Age climate change in South East Arabia
Studies concerning the human response to changing climate in the arid region of South East Arabia are currently scarce and rarely based on geoarchaeological data. The detailed geoarchaeological study of the sedimentary filling of ditches, channels and wells at the Bronze Age tower site of Salūt-ST1, in central Oman, provides the opportunity to start filling this lacuna. The data, collected with a combination of field observation and thin section …
A First Glance at Pre‐Islamic Pigments in Shells From Salūt (Sultanate of Oman)
Marine shells containing greenish or blackish pigments are frequently found at pre‐Islamic archaeological sites in Southeast Arabia and are generally interpreted as ancient eye makeup, representing a long‐standing tradition that continues to the present day. While these ‘cosmetic’ shells are primarily found in funerary contexts, their presence in residential areas suggests broader use within the community. Although relatively abundant, these shel…
Bronze Age to Early Iron Age Water Harvesting and Management in the Ancient Oasis of Salūt (Bisya, Sultanate of Oman)
During the 3rd millennium BC, a series of oases located along the western foothills of the al-Hajar Mountains saw the establishment of intensive human occupation, associated with the construction of large buildings (the so-called “towers”) and residential structures. These settlements were supported by the onset of agriculture and their development was often associated with and made possible by the introduction of substantial water management sys…
Beyond pigment
This study presents the results of a multi-analytical strategy implemented to investigate the composition of pigments preserved within the shells of marine bivalves recovered from six archaeological sites from the Late Bronze Age to the 6th-7th century CE in the present-day United Arab Emirates. The analysed bivalve specimens contain greenish or blackish materials in the shell interior and according to current archaeological interpretations they …
Geography (18 works) · Archaeology (17 works) · Archaeology and Historical Studies (16 works) · History (15 works) · Ancient history (14 works) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies (11 works) · Maritime and Coastal Archaeology (11 works) · Art (8 works) · Excavation (7 works) · Geology (7 works)