In search for a Bronze Age in Central Arabia. A view from Landsat imagery

Following the availability of satellite imagery open access repository such as Landsat ETM (enhanced thematic mapper), this paper intents to re-evaluate the archaeological panorama of Central Arabia with particular regard to the Bronze Age. Sporadic archaeological surveys and field research were basically devoted to the oases of Yabrin and al-Kharj, demonstrating the richness of a Bronze Age at least in these two particularly rich territorial units. Nonetheless, a remote sensing geoarchaeological approach firstly aimed to the depiction of the paleo landscape allows to define a systematic approach based on a predictive model, able to detect the proper amount of Bronze Age structures (mainly funerary) that dotes the region of Central Arabia following precise patterns linked to the availability of peculiar resources and pathways. Thus, in light of this first comprehensive depiction of the Bronze Age panorama, Central Arabia can be better re-evaluated within the Arabian Bronze Age cultures.