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This thesis investigates the Iron Age (1000-300 BC) fine wares of the Rustaq-Batinah Archaeological Survey (RBAS). A typology was created using the data from 13 Iron Age sites across southeast Arabia. The typology was created in order to understand the relationship between the RBAS Iron Age fine wares and their counterparts from other published Iron Age sites. The study also focused on the different fabrics and decoration types present in and on the RBAS Iron Age fine wares. Comparisons of the RBAS fabrics and decoration types with several other Iron Age sites have shown that the RBAS Iron Age fine wares have a close connection with the fine wares from one specific location. Finally, a study of the distribution of vessel types, fabrics and decoration types was conducted in order to better understand the chronology of the RBAS Iron Age sites. Several results have been achieved with the current study. First of all, the variation of the RBAS fine wares has been proven to be rather small. Even though 20 out of the 28 vessels types of the typology are present in the RBAS assemblage, the number of fabrics and the number of decoration types are rather limited. Secondly, the RBAS Iron Age fine wares seem to have close relationship with the fine wares from the Iron Age site of Lizq. The two most frequently occurring fabrics as well as the two most frequently occurring decoration types, are also the most frequently occurring fabrics and decoration types at the site of Lizq. The distribution of the vessel types, fabrics and decoration types suggest that most of the Iron Age sites located in the RBAS study area the areas were occupied in the Iron Age II. However, the assemblages from the tombs and Wadi Mawal are slightly different. In both assemblages there is a higher amount of Iron Age III rim types, arguing for some human activity in that period. Finally, the thesis argues that the two main Iron Age sites located on the Lower Batinah might have received their ceramics from different production center; as is attested by specific fabrics and decoration types which occur in lower numbers at the other Iron Age sites of the RBAS.
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