Sediment-filled karst depressions and riyad – key archaeological environments of south Qatar

Research reveals that sediment-filled karst depressions, known as 'riyad,' and the larger Asaila depression in southern Qatar have preserved significant archaeological evidence, including traces of Early and Middle Neolithic occupation. The study, combining geomorphic mapping, sediment cores, and optically stimulated luminescence dating, shows that these environments experienced dynamic changes during the Holocene, with aeolian morphodynamics dominating the early to mid-Holocene period. Notably, mounds preserved by evaporite horizons indicate a drop in groundwater levels post-6000–4500 years ago, suggesting more favorable living conditions than present. However, the sediment record of the riyad is notably younger (ca. 1500 to 2000 years), explaining the absence of older archaeological findings. The study suggests that geophysical prospection and further analysis could enhance understanding of environmental changes and cultural history in this region.

Engel, M., Rückmann, S., Drechsler, P., Brill, D., Opitz, S., Fassbinder, J. W., Pint, A., Peis, K., Wolf, D., Gerber, C., Pfeiffer, K., Eichmann, R., & Brückner, H. (2020). Sediment-filled karst depressions and riyad – key archaeological environments of south Qatar. E&G Quaternary Science Journal, 68(2), 215–236. https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-215-2020