Located on the coast of the Emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain (UAE), the site of Ed-Dur is without doubt the largest coastal site of the late 1st. cent. B.C. - 1st cent. A.D. between Qatar and the promontory of Musandam. It could have been the site of Ommana, mentionned as a harbour, by Classical authors. In 1986 a European consortium of four countries (Belgium, Denmark, France and Great Britain) was created in order to launch full scale excavations at this site in SE-Arabia. A team from Ghent University was active there, on a yearly basis, until 1995. During these 9 seasons numerous architectural remains and objects were discovered. In the present volume 121 tombs, with their burial goods, are published in full. All tombs and objects are presented in drawings and photographs, so as to provide a quick release of the discoveries. Different types of graves were found, from plain individual tombs to rectangular cists and large semi-subterranean multiple tombs covered by a barrel vault and accessible via an entrance, occasionally with stairs. However, a large above-ground grave was equally discovered. Although mostly plundered, several undisturbed tombs of different type were found, containing numerous objects.

This monograph is the final report of the excavation of the Chamahzi Mumah graveyard in Luristan, Iran, by the University of Ghent and the Royal Museum of Art and History, Brussels. The excavations, directed by Louis Vanden Berghe, were conducted in 1974 and 1975. In total 81 tombs were discovered. They contained a wide range of objects, including pottery, iron and bronze ornament, jewellery. The graveyard can be dated to the Iron Age III in Western Iran (8th-7th century B.C.). Whereas iron is generally used for swords, daggers and arrowheads, as well as for a sculpture, bronze was still preferred for decorated axe-adzes, maceheads, and shields. All the finds are illustrated in line drawings, the tombs and the main objects also in photo.

Located on the coast of the Emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain (UAE), the site of ed-Dur is without doubt the largest coastal settlement of the late 1st. c. B.C.-1st. c. A.D. between Qatar and the promontory of Musandam. Excavations at ed-Dur by a team from Ghent University (Belgium) resulted in the discovery of the only known temple in SE-Arabia for this period. This temple is a prime source and contributes to a better understanding of pre-Islamic rituals and concepts in the region. The small single-roomed almost square structure was preserved to a height of more than 2 meters, with outside walls decorated with fine plasterwork of marginally drafted ashlar masonry. In the immediate vicinity of the sanctuary a well and several freestanding structures related to the cult were excavated as well as a rectangular stone basin on top of a stone socle. An Aramaic inscription on the basin mentions the name of Shamash, indicating that the temple was built for the sun-god. Furthermore, some altars, offering tables (?) and numerous traces of large fires provide glimpses on pre-Islamic religious beliefs in SE-Arabia. Inside the temple were found some Roman bronzes and a small statue of an eagle made of local limestone. The publication presents the full excavation report as well as an analysis and interpretation of possible rituals that took place in and around the temple. These rituals are equally reviewed against the very limited information we have on pre-Islamic religion and practices in this region (e.g. the Ka'ba at Mecca). Besides the numerous tombs (presented in a previous book: Haerinck 2001: Excavations at ed-Dur, Vol. II. The Tombs), more remains such as domestic architecture, platforms, wells and other occupational remains were also excavated all across the site.

This analytical bibliography of pre-Islamic Iranian archaeology, covering the years from 1996 to 2003, continues the same concept as the previous volumes. A first part covers "Generalities," while part two provides the entries organised by region and sites. Part 3 includes the bibliography by period, from Prehistory to the Sassanian period. This fourth Supplement provides almost 1500 entries. An index of authors is also present.