ABU DHABI, 15 Mar, 05 (WAM) - Dolphin Energy Limited will sponsor amajor archaeological excavation and survey in the deep deserts of south-easternAbu Dhabi, as part of its continuing support for studies of the environmentand heritage of the UAE.
The excavation and survey is being carried out by the Abu Dhabi IslandsArchaeological Survey, ADIAS, together with the Department of Antiquitiesand Tourism in Abu Dhabi's Eastern Region, in the Kharimat Khor alManahiland Khor al-Manahil areas - just north of Umm azZamul, where the bordersof the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia meet, according to a reportin the February issue of the company newsletter 'Dolphin sight.' During fieldwork in the two areas in early 2004, numerous archaeologicalsites dating back to the Neolithic period - around 7,000 years ago -were identified. Finds from the sites included dozens of finely-madeflint tools, plus important remains of several small buildings. No buildingsof this date had previously been identified in Abu Dhabi's deserts.
A flint tool, typical of the many finds in the area "We are delightedthat Dolphin is supporting our 2005 work," says Peter Hellyer, the ExecutiveDirector of ADIAS. "Dolphin has been a consistent sponsor of ADIAS, havingpreviously backed survey and excavation undertaken by ADIAS in Wadi Saqamqam,adjacent to the Dolphin pipeline from AI Ain to Fujairah." Both KharimatKhor al-Manahil and Khor al-Manahil are long, open plains, with highsand dunes to the north, south and west. During the Neolithic period,the climate in the UAE was much wetter than today, and the plains mayhave been lakes for part of the year. There would also have been muchmore vegetation and wildlife than today, providing inhabitants with opportunitiesfor hunting animals like gazelle and oryx.
The presence of archaeological sites in the area was first noted byscientists from the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency,ERWDA, who were undertaking wildlife surveys. These were then drawn tothe attention of ADIAS, which arranged with ERWDA and the Departmentof Antiquities and Tourism to carry out a more detailed survey.
The sites identified early in 2004 are the only major sites of theirtype ever discovered in the Emirates, deep in the desert, and provideimportant new evidence of the pattern of human settlement in the UAEat this early period of the country's history.
During the next season of work by the archaeologists this spring, theywill be carrying out further studies of the existing sites. They willalso be undertaking further surveys of other plains, to see whether theNeolithic settlements extended over a wider area.
The CEO, Ahmed Ali AI Sayegh, noted: 'The conservation and protectionof the environment and heritage of the United Arab Emirates is a highpriority for Dolphin. This work in the Umm az-Zamul area is providing valuable new evidenceon how the earliest inhabitants of Abu Dhabi were able to survive inwhat is today the deep desert."
