Archaeologists in Abu Dhabi have unearthed startling new evidence of the first known buildings in the Emirates dating back more than 8,500 years — at least 500 years earlier than previously thought.
The fascinating findings by experts from the capital's Department of Culture and Tourism were made on the island of Ghagha, west of Abu Dhabi.
The discovery of the stone structures, which likely housed the country's first communities, sheds new light on early chapters of the country's rich history.
It was believed that long-distance maritime trade routes which developed during the Neolithic period were the catalyst for settlements in the area, but the latest discovery proves that Neolithic settlements existed before then.
The DCT team have been using cutting-edge techniques to help unravel the history of the country.
The biggest discovery was revealed by carbon-14 analysis of charcoal fragments, which indicated the structures were at least 8,500 years old — breaking the previous record for the earliest known structures built in the UAE, which were detected on Marawah Island, also off the coast of Abu Dhabi.
“These archaeological 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,” said Mohamed Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi.
“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 new evidence, along with the previous findings on the island of Marawah, indicate the islands of Abu Dhabi were a focal point of human innovation and settlement during the Neolithic period, the last stage of the stone age which is viewed as a key era in the development of humanity across the globe.
What did experts find?
The ancient structures were simple round rooms, the walls of which were made of stone and preserved to nearly one metre in height.
It is believed they were probably houses for small communities who inhabited the island year-round.
Hundreds of artefacts 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.
Digging deep into the past
The significant findings on Ghagha Island are just the latest success story for the tourism department's emirate-wide archaeological programme.
In addition to the breakthroughs at Ghagha and Marawah islands, teams have uncovered 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 been a World Heritage Site since 2011.
Abu Dhabi's historic treasure trove also includes Miocene Trackways — footprints of a herd of an extinct form of ancient elephant — which six to eight million years ago; a 3,000 year old falaj in Al Ain, indicating the earliest known widespread use of this irrigation technology in the world; stone tools dating more than 300,000 years ago, which were found in surveys around Jebel Hafit; and a well preserved Iron Age fortress dating back 3,000 years, which was discovered during excavations at Al Ain’s Hili 14 archaeological site.
A series of late pre-Islamic tombs have also been found in various locations in Al Ain.
The view from The National
How to invest in gold
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
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Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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