Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (195 page)

A small kingdom in western Scotland founded by Fergus and his brothers when they moved from Ireland in the later 5th century. It covers the region previously occupied by the
DAMNONII
who may well have been absorbed into the new kingdom. The kingdom was ruled from Dunadd in the Crianan Moss, Argyll, and developed a strong presence in the region. The Celtic church established an early monastery on Iona which provided a base for the conversion of northern Britain to Christianity. See
SCOTS
.

 
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Bifacially worked chipped stone projectile point, a variant of the Clovis point, with a hollow base rather like a fishtail in outline. Characteristic of the
DALTON TRADITION
of the Archaic in southeastern North America, dating to the period 8500–7000 bc.

 
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Early Archaic hunter-gatherer cultural groupings resident in the southeastern part of North America in the period 8500–7000 bc. Characterized by a lithic assemblage containing
DALTON POINTS
, known sites include short-term living places or base camps with middens, a possible cemetery at Sloan, Arkansas, and kill sites or butchery places where a very limited range of tools such as points, knives, choppers, and hammerstones are found.

 
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An examination by professional archaeologists of the results of acts of destruction or violation which have occurred to call into question the continued well-being of elements of the archaeological resource.

 
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A rich oasis city that is still the modern capital of Syria. Occupied from at least the 3rd millennium
bc
, much of the prehistoric and Roman town lies beneath the modern city and thus is not easily accessible for excavation. However, historical accounts show something of its long history. Egyptian texts and biblical references show that it was an important international trading centre from the 16th century
bc
. The Aramaens conquered the town in the 2nd millennium
bc
, the Israelites in the 19th century
bc
, and the Assyrians in the 8th century
bc
. By 85 bc it had become the capital of the Nabatean kingdom, and by 64 bc it was a Roman city of both commercial and strategic importance. In the mid 1st millennium
ad
it became a major Byzantine garrison. In 635 it was captured by Arab forces and chosen as their capital by the Ummayads who were the first Islamic dynasty spanning the period ad 611 to ad 750. The Great Mosque of the caliph Al-Walid was built between ad 706 to ad 714, in the ruins of a Roman temple, and still stands today.
[Sum.: W. T. Pitard , 1987,
Ancient Damascus: a historical study of the Syrian city-state from the earliest times until its fall to the Assyrians in 732 BCE
. Winona Lake, IND: Eisenbrauns]

 
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Late Iron Age tribe living in southwestern Scotland at the time of the Roman conquest and for some time before.

 
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