Animal Economies and Islamic Conversion in Eastern Ethiopia: Zooarchaeological Analyses from Harlaa, Harar and Ganda Harla
Jane S. Gaastra
Timothy Insoll
10.6084/m9.figshare.12152790.v1
https://brill.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Animal_Economies_and_Islamic_Conversion_in_Eastern_Ethiopia_Zooarchaeological_Analyses_from_Harlaa_Harar_and_Ganda_Harla/12152790
<p>Excavations at three urban
sites, Harlaa, Harar, and Ganda Harla, in eastern Ethiopia have recovered
substantial assemblages of faunal remains. These, the first to be analysed from
Islamic contexts in the country, were studied to reconstruct animal economies,
and to assess if it was possible to identify Islamic conversion or the presence
of Muslims in archaeological contexts through examining butchery practices and
diet via the species present. Differences in animal economies between the sites
in, for example, management strategies, use of animals for traction, and
presence of imported marine fish, infers the development of different
traditions. However, conversion to Islam was evident, and although issues of
non-observance, mixed communities, and dietary eclecticism have to be
acknowledged, the appearance of a similar range of butchery techniques suggests
these were linked with the appearance of Muslim traders, and subsequent spread
of Islam.</p>
2020-05-01 08:57:57
Islam
Ethiopia
zooarchaeology
Harar
Harlaa
butchery
religious conversion
Diet Flexibility Global competition
Archaeology