Publications by Friedrich Weigel
Water Management at Qurḥ/al-Mabiyat (North-West Arabia): Between the Exploitation of Natural Resources and the Mitigation of Risks
F. W. Weigel, A. Nilges, P. Keilholz and A. Hausleiter, Water Management at Qurḥ/al-Mabiyat (Nort... more F. W. Weigel, A. Nilges, P. Keilholz and A. Hausleiter, Water Management at Qurḥ/al-Mabiyat (North-West Arabia): Between the Exploitation of Natural Resources and the Mitigation of Risks, in: Timothy Insoll, Rachel Maclean, Salman Almahari (eds.) The Archaeology of Irrigation Technology and Water Management in the Islamic World. Proceedings of the Bahrain Conference, January 2024 (Oxford: Archaeopress, 2025): 37–52.
Piecing together the evidence: architecture, inscriptions, and sherds from an early to middle Islamic funerary context in Qurḥ/al‑Mabiyāt, Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 54 (2025): 105–120.
S. Janke, F. W. Weigel, M. Ahmad and A. Hausleiter (2025), Piecing together the evidence: archite... more S. Janke, F. W. Weigel, M. Ahmad and A. Hausleiter (2025), Piecing together the evidence: architecture, inscriptions, and sherds from an early to middle Islamic funerary context in Qurḥ/al‑Mabiyāt, Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 54: 105–120.
Der Mensch in der visuellen Kultur Mesopotamiens. Eine Annäherung an Ontologie, Sozialkörper und gesellschaftliche Strukturen in den Bildern der Frühdynastischen und Akkad-Zeit (Berlin 2021) DOI: 10.17169/refubium-47452
Otto, A., Herles, M., Kaniuth, K. (eds.), Proceedings of the 11th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. Vol. 1, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz., 2020
Studies on built environments in the Ancient Near East often focus on residential architecture an... more Studies on built environments in the Ancient Near East often focus on residential architecture and rarely emphasize the existence of a variety of constructed living spaces that constitute settlements (e.g. habitation, work, subsistence). The ancient oasis of Tayma, situated in the arid region of NW-Arabia, was structured by a vast system of walls that defined several Compounds with distinct characteristics. Their variety is exemplified by Compound E, in which a residential quarter (Area E-South/F) with a continual archaeological sequence dating at least from the mid-1st mill. BCE to Late Antiquity was excavated, and Compound A, once confining a large intramural agricultural area (Area H) that featured a sophisticated canal system which was in use at least from the 11th – 6th cent. BCE.
In the present case study, drawn from results of recent fieldwork at the site by a joint Saudi-German project, these contrasting living spaces are analysed. Both represent different facets of everyday life such as agricultural production, food processing, storage and socioeconomic organisation of households. These aspects provide insights into the complex interplay of different living spaces within the ancient oasis of Tayma.
Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy, 2019
The definition of an ancient, autochthonous north-west Arabian residential architecture is still ... more The definition of an ancient, autochthonous north-west Arabian residential architecture is still a major void in the archaeology of the region. This preliminary case study is intended to shed some light on this “blind spot” by presenting and analysing the architectural complex E-b9 from Taymāʾ (c. fourth/third century BCE until the first/early second century CE). A meticulous study of the architecture identified a modular concept as a key to understanding the complex. Furthermore, underlying patterns of household organisation can be deduced from the architectural remains resulting in the definition of potential household units. Those are indicated by a set of activity areas which are congruent with patterns of accessibility and the use of specific wall types. These findings provide insights into the organisation of households and daily life in the oasis of Taymāʾ, and may help to define local or regional traditions in the future.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/aae.12124
https://doi.org/10.1111/aae.12124
Tayma 2011 - 8th Report on the Saudi Arabian-German Joint Archaeological Project, A. Hausleiter, R. Eichmann, M. H. al-Najem, S. F. al-Said, with contributions by M. Grottker, A. Intilia, S. Lora, Ch. Purschwitz, F. Tourtet, P. Voß, F. Weigel, K. Wellbrock, ATLAL 27 (2019) 47 - 99 (EN/AR) ATLAL - Journal of Saudi Arabian Archaology, 2019
Report on the 2011 season of excavations at Tayma
Area H. Contribution in Hausleiter, A., Eichmann, R., al-Najem, M., & al-Said, S.F., Tayma – 2009, 6th Report on the Joint Saudi Arabian-German Archaeological Project
ATLAL, 2018
Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies, 2015
The comparative analysis of architecture and pottery of the Nabataean and Roman periods from the ... more The comparative analysis of architecture and pottery of the Nabataean and Roman periods from the central residential area of Tayma (Areas Ε-South and F) enables an investigation of the impact of the annexation of the Nabataean kingdom by the Roman Empire at the level of the daily life of non-elite parts of the local society. During the Nabataean period (represented by occupation level F:4 of the residential area), the non-elite material culture shows a strong autochthonous character. The use of Nabataean architectural elements is not attested. Organizational principles, such as the division of the ground floor into small compartments and the construction of multi-storey buildings, rather find parallels in southern and western Arabia (al-Ukhdūd, Qaryat al-Fāw). Similarly, many pottery shapes can be paralleled with those in north-west Arabia, but not in the Nabataean heartland. Nabataean influence can, however, be identified in the pottery technology by the introduction of a new fabric, and in numerous coarse ware jars. Nabataean fine ware, and especially its painted version, is extremely rare. In the late Roman period (OL F:3), the integration of Tayma into Provincia Arabia led to stronger ties with the southern Levant, as evidenced by the use of courtyards similar to those in houses in the Levant at this time. Considering the pottery, except for a specific jar type, the majority of the shapes have parallels in late Roman sites from the southern Levant. It thus seems that the integration of Tayma into Provincia Arabia led to a reinforcement of ties with the north.
Trinke und herrsche! Weingenuss als Instrument kommensaler Politik im Reich der Achaimeniden.
Das Altertum, 2012
In Press & Forthcoming by Friedrich Weigel
First Preliminary Report on the Excavations of Area H (2008–2009). In Hausleiter, A., Eichmann, R., al-Najem, M. (Eds.), Tayma IV
Tayma IV
Archaeohydrological Investigations in the Oasis of Tayma, Saudi Arabia, during Seasons 2013 to 2015. Contribution in Hausleiter, A., Eichmann, R., al-Najem, M., & al-Said, S.F., Tayma – 2013–2015, 10th Report on the Joint Saudi Arabian-German Archaeological Project. ATLAL
Kai Wellbrock, Friedrich Weigel, Martin Strauss, Amer al-Souliman, Christoph Külls, and Matthias ... more Kai Wellbrock, Friedrich Weigel, Martin Strauss, Amer al-Souliman, Christoph Külls, and Matthias Grottker [in press]
Preliminary report on the archaeohydrological investigations in Tayma, during seasons 2013 to 2015. Preliminary / preview Script, submitted to ATLAL.
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Publications by Friedrich Weigel
In the present case study, drawn from results of recent fieldwork at the site by a joint Saudi-German project, these contrasting living spaces are analysed. Both represent different facets of everyday life such as agricultural production, food processing, storage and socioeconomic organisation of households. These aspects provide insights into the complex interplay of different living spaces within the ancient oasis of Tayma.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/aae.12124
https://doi.org/10.1111/aae.12124
In Press & Forthcoming by Friedrich Weigel
Preliminary report on the archaeohydrological investigations in Tayma, during seasons 2013 to 2015. Preliminary / preview Script, submitted to ATLAL.