Our coastal areas conceal much more than they reveal. Consider Dalma Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, which has a fascinating history spanning thousands of years. As The National reported yesterday, the 7,000-year-old site has yielded evidence that the tradition of pearl diving in this region is much older than we thought.
The island also holds some of the region’s earliest evidence of Mesopotamian pottery and stone tools, which indicates the presence of a thriving maritime trade along its shores. What heritage experts have so far revealed is a snapshot of what life was like then, what their research may yet bring is a definitive answer to what happened to this settlement.
Exploring our coastal region and learning more about our forefathers will contribute to a better understanding of our heritage. We hope that our summer series will encourage you to explore a little more of our fascinating coastline.