World’s oldest pearl unearthed on Abu Dhabi’s Marawah Island
Archaeologists have discovered what is believed to be the world’s oldest natural pearl, on an island off Abu Dhabi.
The 8,000-year-old gemstone was unearthed on Marawah Island, off the coast of Mirfa town about 160 kilometres west of Abu Dhabi city.
Using carbon dating, archaeologists from the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi deduced that the pearl dates from 5,800 to 5,600BC.
Archaeologists believe the discovery proves pearls were used in the UAE nearly 8,000 years ago and it represents the earliest known evidence for pearling yet discovered anywhere in the world.
It follows a string of discoveries on Marawah over the past few years that have revealed evidence of a sophisticated Stone Age settlement.
The pearl will now go on display at Louvre Abu Dhabi as part of the “10,000 Years of Luxury” exhibition that opens on October 30. The pearl will eventually be housed at Zayed National Museum, which is being built on Saadiyat Island.
“The Abu Dhabi pearl is a stunning find, testimony to the ancient origins of our engagement with the sea,” said Mohamed Al Mubarak, chairman of the DCT.
“The discovery of the oldest pearl in the world in Abu Dhabi makes it clear that so much of our recent economic and cultural history has deep roots that stretch back to the dawn of prehistory.
“Marawah Island is one of our most valuable archaeological sites and excavations continue in the hope of discovering even more evidence of how our ancestors lived, worked and thrived.”
Excavations on the island usually take place in spring and last up to two months. The pearl was found during last year’s season on the floor of one of the rooms in a dwelling in the village and carbon dating finished a few months later.
Prior to this discovery, the earliest known pearl in the UAE was found at a Neolithic site in Umm Al Quwain and believed to be 7,500 years old. Ancient pearls from the same time were found at a Neolithic cemetery close to Jebel Buhais in Sharjah. Carbon dating indicates that the Abu Dhabi pearl is older than both these finds.
Experts have suggested that ancient pearls were traded with Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq) in exchange for highly decorated ceramics and other goods. Pearls were also probably worn as jewellery.
A major new dig on Marawah Island is planned for 2020.