Millennia of Middle East life revealed in more than 20,000 relics
▶ Archaeologists in Ras Al Khaimah are engaged in an ambitious project
Thousands of archaeological finds have been restored and documented as part of an ambitious five-year project to piece together Ras Al Khaimah’s rich history.
About 20,000 artefacts unearthed in the emirate – many found to be more than 4,000 years old – have already been examined and identified.
“These pieces and objects tell a great story about the history of the emirate and the country in general, and the relationships with other countries,” said Ahmed Al Tuneiji, director general of Ras Al Khaimah’s Antiquities and Museums Department.
“The project is essential as every piece holds valuable information about our culture, ancestors and history.”
Experts at the department have been reviewing the relics for the past two years.
The team aims to classify 90,000 ancient artefacts by 2022 to give a more detailed insight into millennia of the region’s history.
Many of the objects were discovered three decades ago at archaeological sites across the emirate.
But with scant information available about them, the department decided to launch its ambitious mission.
A number of objects of historical interest have also been donated by everyone from Ras Al Khaimah royalty to members of the public.
Pottery, jewellery, weapons and tools are among the haul recorded so far.
“The documentation plan will cover about 90,000 artefacts in the department,” Mr Al Tuneiji said.
“Our team has finalised the documentation of 20,000 pieces and will need three years more to complete the process.”
Ismail Draz, head of the collection unit at the museums department, said some pieces can be assessed in an hour, while they must pore over others for more than a week.
“It is a very sensitive process as many of the artefacts stored in the department have not gone through a proper documentation process and this project will focus on that,” he said.
“I joined the project last year and we still need around three years to document the 70,000 artefacts left as part of the plan.
“The artefacts go through different phases of identification, analysis and then documentation. Some take an hour, others take a week, depending on the object’s condition and type.
“We take photos of the object, analyse it using electron microscopes and X-rays, take it for restoration if needed and then send it back to where it is stored.”
Mr Draz said many objects could be identified by comparing them to other pieces.
“We can know which century the object represents by analysing its structure, material and compare it with similar artefacts,” he said.
“Then, on an Excel sheet, we add the photos of the artefact, its number, the material it’s made from, a description of the object, the place where it was found, add comments about the restoration process and any other remarks.”
Carnelian beads up to 4,000 years old were also documented during the project along with handmade pots, arrowheads and coins dating to the 18th century. Fragments of porcelain were also analysed during the project.
Rare Chinese porcelain was discovered in the excavations, which began in 2017 and were carried out jointly by the Palace Museum in Beijing and the antiquities department in Ras Al Khaimah.
The blue and white shards date from the Yuan Dynasty of 1271 to 1368 and highlight the extent of China’s trade with the region through the Middle Ages. “The age of the artefacts and the information that it provides us with are unique and valuable that tells us a lot about the culture of the area and its relationship with other countries such as China, Egypt and India,” Mr Draz said.
Some of the newly documented artefacts will be displayed at the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah.
The building was formerly a fort and was home to the emirate’s ruling family until the 1960s.
The structure was converted into a museum in 1987.