UMM AL QAIWAIN: The Department of Tourism and Archaeology in Umm Al Qaiwain has started archaeological excavations for the winter season 2024-2025 at Al Ghallah Island, a coastal site in Khor Umm Al Qaiwain. The site, which dates back to the Neolithic period, is estimated to be around seven thousand years old.
The French mission is currently participating in archaeological excavations on the island, highlighting the significance of international collaboration and cultural exchange in advancing scientific research. Initial excavations began in 1989, conducted by the French team over three years, and were resumed in 2002, continuing until 2009 for a total of five consecutive seasons.
Haitham Sultan Al Ali, Director-General of the Umm Al Qaiwain Tourism and Archaeology Department, emphasised that archaeological excavations are crucial for preserving and sustainably managing sites for future generations while enhancing understanding of human history. ‘These efforts align with the growing interest in historical
and archaeological tourism, aimed at exploring the region’s cultural development, particularly in Umm Al Qaiwain Emirate.’
The site features a distinctive archaeological stratigraphic sequence, including a well-preserved layer from the fourth millennium BC, which is uncommon in the Arabian Peninsula. This makes the site particularly valuable for study and excavation, as it reflects a transitional phase between the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age.
This year’s excavation plan aims to analyse the fourth millennium BC layer on the island and complete the excavation of the dugong bone collection area. The goal is to explore the connection between these findings and the island’s fishing settlement from the fifth millennium BC to gain insights into the economic life and lifestyles of early inhabitants, including their rituals.
Recent archaeological excavations on Al Ghallah Island by the Department of Tourism and Archaeology have uncovered the oldest known ritual structure. This discovery includes a deliberat
e accumulation of dugong bones, dating back to the latter part of the fourth millennium BC, covering an area of approximately 10 square metres and consisting of around forty dugong bones.
Source: Emirates News Agency
