Archaeologists in the United Arab Emirates have uncovered the country's oldest known buildings, dating back at least 8,500 years, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism said in a statement Sunday.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The discovery on the island of Ghagha, west of Abu Dhabi city, revealed stone structures offering a further compelling history of the UAE.
UAE archaeologists have been conducting scientific analyses of the artifacts since the structures and accompanying objects were unearthed. This extraordinary discovery, varified visa carbon analysis, broke the previous record for the earliest known structures built in the UAE, which were discovered in 2017 on Marawah Island, by over 500 years.
In 2019, excavations at Marawah Island unearthed the world's oldest natural pearl, which was found to be 8,000 years old.
"It was previously thought that long-distance maritime trade routes, which developed during the Neolithic period, were the catalyst for settlements in the area, but the latest discoveries prove that Neolithic settlements existed prior to the onset of trade, which means it was local economic and environmental conditions that led to the first settled life in what is now the United Arab Emirates. Rather than being arid and inhospitable, the islands were in a sense a 'Fertile Coast'. This evidence recasts Abu Dhabi's islands within the cultural history of the broader region," the statement said.
Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi Mohamed Al Mubarak said that the finds "have shown that people were settling and building homes here 8,500 years ago. The discoveries on Ghagha island highlight that the characteristics of innovation, sustainability, and resilience have been part of the DNA of the inhabitants of this region for thousands of years. The finds reinforce an appreciation of history, as well as the deep cultural connections between the people of the UAE and the sea.
"We are also reminded that there is still much to discover across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and that it is vitally important we continue working to discover, preserve and protect our invaluable heritage for current and future generations to learn more about our ancestral past."
The discovery in Ghagha indicates that "the islands of Abu Dhabi were a focal point for human innovation and settlement during the Neolithic period – a time of fundamental change throughout much of the world," the statement continued.
The structures that have been uncovered are simple round rooms, the walls of which are made from stone and preserved to nearly one meter in height. The rooms were likely houses for a small community that may have lived on the island year-round.
Hundreds of artifacts were found in the rooms, including finely worked stone arrowheads that would have been used for hunting. It is likely that the community would also have used the rich resources of the sea. How long the settlement existed is unknown, but after it was abandoned, it apparently remained an important part of the cultural landscape, as nearly 5,000 years ago a person was buried in the ruins of the structures. It is one of the few burials from this period known on the Abu Dhabi islands.
The discoveries on Ghagha Island come as part of DCT Abu Dhabi's emirate-wide archaeological program, in line with the organization's mandate to preserve, protect and promote the ancient history and cultural heritage of Abu Dhabi.
The emirate contains some of the most prized and unique cultural and historical attractions and finds in the region and internationally. In addition to the discoveries on Ghagha and Marawah islands, these include the remains of an ancient monastery on Sir Bani Yas island, as well as the UNESCO-inscribed Cultural Site of Al Ain, comprising a series of oases, historic monuments, archaeological sites, and natural areas, which has featured on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List since 2011.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
