Shabwa Palace Shagab East Tower
Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE)·Bronze Age·🇾🇪 Shabwah, Shabwa, Yemen
About
About Shabwa Palace Shagab East Tower
Shabwa Palace Shagab East Tower in Shabwah, Shabwa, Yemen is a Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE) ancient city attributed to Bronze Age. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal walled area 12 ha and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 15.3680N 47.0250E controls access to Shabwah resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey ancient city for Shabwah, Shabwa, illustrating Bronze Age construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2800 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE)
- Culture
- Bronze Age
- Purpose
- Regional urban centre controlling trade and administration
- Rediscovered
- 1981 survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 2800 BCE
Initial construction of Shabwa Palace Shagab East Tower main structure
c. 1921
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically
1981–2011
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Shabwa Palace Shagab East Tower) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
15.3680° N · 47.0250° E · 227 m · 3 mapped features
Shabwa Palace Shagab East Tower — Main Structure
structurePrincipal ancient city — Walled area 12 ha with diagnostic masonry/panel
15.3688° N · 47.0259° EShabwa Palace Shagab East Tower — Ancillary Complex
complexAncillary settlement debris and ceramics surrounding main feature
15.3670° N · 47.0243° EShabwa Palace Shagab East Tower — Peripheral Feature
outlierPeripheral feature with outlier deposit and burial
15.3695° N · 47.0262° E