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An Early Islamic Rock Crystal Amulet Seal from Unguja Ukuu, Zanzibar
Journal of African Archaeology Pub Date : 2022-04-13 , DOI: 10.1163/21915784-bja10013
Akshay Sarathi 1, 2 , J. Mark Kenoyer 3 , Jonathan R. Walz 4
Affiliation  

Archaeological excavations at Unguja Ukuu recovered a rock crystal cabochon seal with the word lillāh (“for God”) inscribed in the Kufic script on its domed surface. The artifact is an intaglio amulet seal engraved in the negative. Microscopic examination of the seal surfaces reveals that a rotary tool was used to make the initial inscription. At some later point, a diagonal spall was removed across part of the inscription. The diagonal spall appears to be along a natural crystal plane. It is impossible to determine if this was the result of intentional defacement or an accidental process that might have resulted in the eventual deposition of the seal. Strata dated by radiometric and relative methods coupled with the style of the Kufic script date the seal to the late-8th to 9th centuries CE. This artifact is the earliest known example of an Islamic amulet seal and of writing in the Zanzibar Archipelago.



中文翻译:

桑给巴尔 Unguja Ukuu 的早期伊斯兰岩石水晶护身符印章

在 Unguja Ukuu 进行的考古发掘发现了一块凸圆形宝石水晶印章,其圆顶表面上刻有 Kufic文字lillāh (“为了上帝”)。这件神器是一个阴刻的凹版护身符印章。密封表面的显微镜检查表明使用旋转工具制作了初始铭文。在稍后的某个时间点,部分铭文上的对角线剥落被移除。对角线剥落似乎沿着天然晶面。无法确定这是故意污损的结果,还是可能导致印章最终沉积的意外过程。通过辐射测量法和相对法测定年代的地层,加上库法体的风格,可以确定印章的年代为公元 8 世纪末至 9世纪. 这件手工艺品是已知最早的伊斯兰护身符印章和桑给巴尔群岛文字的例子。

更新日期:2022-04-13
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