What was life like in ancient UAE?
abu dhabi — A team of local and international archaeological experts have resumed an excavation of a culturally and historically significant site in Al Ain, which was stopped three decades ago.
The experts has restarted their work after 30 years on the site, which is reputed to be one of the earliest agricultural-based villages in the UAE. The site — Hili 8 — located near Hili Archaeological Park in Al Ain, was first explored and excavated by French archaeologists in the 1970s and 1980s and provided tentative evidence for the beginnings of the date, wheat and barley cultivation thousands of years ago.
A complete account of these excavations remained unpublished due to the untimely death of the chief archaeologist. But the team’s excavations played a key role in understanding the development of oasis agriculture in Al Ain millennia ago and helped areas of the city to be inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA-Abu Dhabi) commissioned a project to recommence excavations at the site, using the latest techniques and equipment available, with work beginning again in March. The TCA archaeologists worked alongside leading field archaeologists from around the world.
Hamdan Rashed Al Rashedi, TCA-Abu Dhabi archaeologist, said: “I was happy to work at one of most important archaeological sites in Al Ain and a World Heritage Site. The excavation will help us better understand Hili 8 and the nature of life at that time. The team is very experienced in
The excavation will help us better understand Hili 8 and the nature of life at that time. The team is very experienced in the region with the latest techniques and I benefited a lot from working with them.” Hamdan Rashed Al Rashedi, TCA Abu Dhabi archaeologist
the region with the latest techniques and I benefited a lot from working with them.”
What was life millennia ago?
It is hoped that the findings will support evidence that points to Hili 8, an agricultural-based society was formed, as opposed to the early pastoral nomadic existence of previous inhabitants. During the excavations, a rich assortment of artefacts was recovered, as well as plant and animal remains.
These will be subject to a battery of scientific tests, including carbon-14 dating. The team, working with Emirati archaeologists, will also be analysing any ancient copper relics found in the area, which will then be subjected to isotopic testing to conclude when people began trading copper in the UAE.
When all the research results are combined, scientists will have a deeper understanding of the beginnings of oasis life in Al Ain and help Abu Dhabi preserve its heritage dating back thousands of years.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com