Page 100 - DILMUN 12

DILMUN — A TRADING ENTREPOT : i

EVIDENCE FROM HISTORICAL AND

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOURCES

Gerd Weisgerber

Dilnnin’s role as a trading station in an international trade network in the 3rd millcnium
B.C. is generally recognized.1 Trading partners have been identified as Makan and Mcluhha,
the present-day Oman Peninsula and cultures in the Indus Valley. This interpretation is
gaining acceptance and, in the course of the following report, will be considered the basis of
further discussion.

The report will show, that the position of Dilmun should be re-considered in the light of
recent archaeological discoveries and interpretation of historical sources. How should the
term “trading emporium” be defined? Is it simply a flourishing market and transfer point? Is it
a market for quality goods, existing at a time when such markets were not free ports — as we
know for Sumer? Trade and long-distance trade were controlled by the temples and ruling
authorities; according to the level of culture pertaining, equally bureaucratic. However, it is
exactly this bureaucracy which we have to thank for the historical records regarding Dilmun’s
long-distance trading activities.

Long-distance trade has been repeatedly viewed in the last decades from the viewpoints
of Archaeology2, History3 and Anthropology4. Each of these aspects can be differently
weighted in importance or viewed in combination with each other. In the ease of the present
report, I have chosen the archaeo-historical aspect, which reflects the state ofsource materials.
Two examples are given, whixh illustrate the theme of the paper.

The island of Dahlak is situated in the southern Red Sea, lying off the coast of Eritrea and
the harbour city Massaua5. Dahlak is the largest island of a coral archipelago, the surface is
bare of vegetation other than a single stand of acasia trees in a basin. Although the island has
an area of 750 km2, there is no water available, other than that provided by the sparse rains.
The earlier inhabitants made their living through pearl-diving and turtle fishing; today the
island is virtually uninhabited. In earlier periods, this barren island played an important role in
overseas trade, due to the geographical location in the Red Sea. Ruins of a large settlement
(town?) and six large grave-fields with incriptions in Kufi and Nashi lettering attest to this
previous important role. The remains date from 327 AH/939 AD to 632 AH/1235 AD, with a
peak in the 4th and 5th century AH (1000 — 1200 AD). The number of inscriptions has
parallels in such grave-fields as Assuan or Cairo; at the height of its prosperity Dahlak was an
independent sultanate. Historical records do not exist and no archaeological studies have been
carried out up to now; epigraphic data provide the actual calendar periods referred to above.
Although little is known about Dahlak, there can only be one explanation of the economic
basis for settlement — control ofshipping in the Red Sea. Whether this control was carried out
as an independent sultanate, or under the jurisdiction of Asmara, is a question which may
never be clearly answered. Another aspect is which of the shipping lanes were control­
led— the North-South and South-North traffic, or traffic between Eritrea and Yemen.
Whatever the case, the town’s inhabitants were prosperous enough to be able to afford
inscribed grave-stones, made ofimported solid stone; although the water supply was provided
only by rain-water cisterns. The profits were more likely the takings from customs duties and
tariffs of the shipping tra’de, than peacefully gained proceeds from market trading.

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