Kharimat Khor Al Manahil and Khor Al Manahil

Birmingham Archaeology	Department of Museums & Antiquities, National Council for Culture Arts & Letters, NCCAL, Kuwait

Introduction

In the southeast region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi near Umm ez Zamoul, not far from the border between the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia a number of Neolithic sites have been recently discovered. In several locations of this region which extends within the territory of the U.A.E., namely to the west of the road linking Al Qua’a with Umm ez Zamoul, around seven thousand years ago stone age people actively practiced their daily life. The climate in this part of Arabia at that time was different from that of today, with more rainfall and more vegetation.

Large collections of flint tools and artefacts have been discovered which are still under study. Arrowheads of different types are the most recognizable tools among the collections which also include flakes and limestone mortars. Similar artefacts are known from other regions of the U.A.E but this is the first time that they have been located in such an inhospitable environment and in such large quantities. Although these artefacts came from the surface some remains of what look like stone structures have also been identified.

Archaeological investigations carried out so far indicate that this region which is a desert today was different when communities were roaming the area during Neolithic times. Preliminary evidence also indicate that some of these sites may have been originally located on the shores of land locked lakes that may have existed in the region when the climate was more wet. Exposed limestone terraces that perhaps were submerged by water do exist in the plains which extends scores of kilometres to the west of the Al Hajar mountains. These plains are mainly covered with sand dunes which become higher the more they extend further to the west towards Liwa.

Two major Neolithic settlements have been discovered in the south-eastern desert of Abu Dhabi emirate in the United Arab Emirates. This is the first time that stone structures, associated with extensive lithic scatters, from this period have been discovered so deep in the interior of the emirate. Historically the Umm ez Zamoul region has always been a focal point because of the presence of sweet-water wells. The area is sparsely populated and human activities at the present day are largely confined to camel farming and related occupations, although development of an oilfield is now under way.

Situated at the north-eastern edge of the Empty Quarter or Rub al-Khali, the region today is characterised by flat plains interspersed with linear mega-dunes and local patches of sabkha, some of which cover several square kilometres.

How were the archaeological sites discovered?

A team from the Terrestrial Environment Research Center (TERC) at the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) reported in October 2003 to the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS) the discovery of a series of prehistoric lithic scatters which they encountered whilst doing work for their Abu Dhabi baseline survey in the south-eastern desert of Abu Dhabi emirate. They had been working in an area called Kharimat Khor Al Manahil, located just to the north of Umm az-Zumul.

An initial reconnaisance of the area was carried out on the 3-4 November 2003 by a small team of staff from both ADIAS and ERWDA. Shortly following this visit, ADIAS was then provided with further information by John Newby, Director of TERC at ERWDA, about the existence of another important flint scatter area at Khor Al Manahil, located to the north of Kharimat Khor Al Manahil.

Dr Mark Beech subsequently informed Dr Walid Yasin al-Tikriti (Department of Antiquities and Tourism in the Diwan of the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi) about the new archaeological sites discovered in this region, and a decision was made to undertake a joint project to investigate this region by the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS) in collaboration with the Department of Antiquities and Tourism in Al Ain.

The first season of work at Kharimat Khor Al Manahil and Khor Al Manahil took place between the 24th January and the 6th February 2004. A second season of work was carried out at both sites between the 29th December 2004 and the 23rd January 2005. A third season of fieldwork is currently underway at Khor Al Manahil. This began on 28 December 2005 and is planned until 23 January 2006.

More details are provided below.



View of dunes in the area of Kharimat Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)

Initial Reconnaisance (3 - 4 November 2003)

The team on the initial reconnaisance trip comprised Dr Mark Beech and Dr John Stewart (ADIAS), Chris Drew (TERC Mammalian Ecology Scientist), and Dominique Pauli (TERC placement student). This work aimed to document the precise location and extent of the lithic scatters, and to plan a future strategy for their detailed investigation. GPS co-ordinates were taken of a number of important sites requiring further work.

Here are some pictures taken during the fieldwork at Kharimat Khor Al Manahil.



Dominique Pauli examines one of the lithic scatters at Kharimat Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)

Close-up of one of the lithic scatters at Kharimat Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)

A flint "hoe" discovered at Kharimat Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)

A flint arrowhead discovered at Kharimat Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)

First Season (24 January - 6 February 2004)

The team for this first full season of investigation of the region comprised: Dr Mark Beech (ADIAS Senior Resident Archaeologist), Dr Heiko Kallweit (ADIAS Associate, Freiburg, Germany), and Dr Walid Yasin al-Tikriti (Department of Antiquities and Tourism, Al Ain).

Work concentrated in three areas: Kharimat Khor Al Manahil (KHM), Sabkhat Bu Dab (SBD) and Khor Al Manahil (KAM). Lithic scatters first noted at KHM by a team from the Terrestrial Environment Research Centre (TERC) of the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) were revisited and then systematic mapping and collection of material was made.

Mapping was undertaken of a total of 80 sites where there were significant clusters of worked flint and other stone material. In the KHM region these lithic scatters were spread almost continuously along the northern edge of the plain for more than 3km!

Two significant flint scatters at sites KHM0012 and KHM0035 were mapped and systematically collected. This is the first time that in situ flint scatters have been recorded in such detail in the UAE. It will provide much important information on the technology and processes used in the manufacture of stone tools during the Neolithic period.

One area of particular interest that requires further detailed investigation was identified in the Kharimat Khor Al Manahil area (sites KHM002-4). This was a large oval depression ca 120 x 50 metres in size. Nearly all of the flints noted here were collected from the terraced edge around this depression. It is tempting to speculate that the depression itself may originally have been a small water pool or lake around 6-7000 years ago, when the climate was significantly wetter than it is today. This, however, requires further geomorphological work and testing of sediment samples in the future.

The most exciting result of the first season was the discovery of two major settlement areas with surviving stone structures. No pottery was found at any of these sites but there were large quantities of Late Stone Age flints scattered amongst and around the sites. A group of three adjacent stone structures was located in the Kharimat Khor Al Manahil region (sites KHM0045-47). These were round to oval shaped structures about 5-6metres in diameter whose perimeter was marked by large limestone blocks. A 4x1metre test trench was excavated through the western entrance of the best preserved structure (KHM0046).



House structure at site KHM0046, Kharimat Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)

This revealed that the east and west aligned entrances to the structure had substantial stone blocks set on their side, which in some cases were up to 80cm in length. The structures were built directly onto a silty sand matrix, and the blocks of stone had clearly been transported to the site, perhaps from the limestone outcrop located about 1.5km to the east.

A second settlement area was also noted 7km to the NE at Khor Al Manahil. Here the structures were more eroded but there appeared to be a cluster of at least five possible structures (KAM003-7).


Limestone mortar discovered at site KAM008, Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)

Two limestone mortars (one of them is depicted above) were discovered on the ground surface adjacent to the structures at Khor Al Manahil.

Some quite remarkable stone tool artefacts were recorded at the site including this fine willowleaf foliate.


Willowleaf foliate from site KAM009, Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)

Second Season (29 December 2004 - 23 January 2005)

A second season of work at Khor Al Manahil and Kharimat Khor Al Manahil took place from late December 2004 to late January 2005. The team comprised Dr Mark Beech (ADIAS Senior Resident Archaeologist), Richard Cuttler (ADIAS Associate, Birmingham Archaeology, University of Birmingham, UK), Dr Heiko Kallweit (ADIAS Associate, Freiburg, Germany), Hamed Al Mutairi (Department of Museums and Antiquities, National Council for Culture Arts and Letters, NCCAL, Kuwait), and Dr Walid Yasin Al-Tikriti (Department of Antiquities and Tourism, Al Ain).

Additional field assistance for was provided for a few days by Dr Drew Gardner (Zayed University, Abu Dhabi), Marc Dyer (Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi) and Karen Cooper.

The main focus of work for the second season was concentrated on the sites located in the Khor Al Manahil area. Some work was also carried out towards the end of the season in the Kharimat Khor Al Manahil area.

The main aims of the 2005 season were as follows:

(1) to map the extent of the archaeological sites at Khor Al Manahil, sites KAM0001 - KAM0021.
(2) to systematically pick-up and map all lithic material from the Khor Al Manahil sites.
(3) to make a topographic map of the terrain at Khor Al Manahil so that the archaeological sites could be seen precisely within their landscape context.
(4) to make a topographic map of the terrain at site KHM0035, the rich lithics scatter first investigated during the 2004 season, so that the archaeological site could be seen precisely within its landscape context.
(5) to map the extent of the three stone structures, sites KHM0045 - KHM0047, at Kharimat Khor Al Manahil.
(6) to make a topographic map of the terrain surrounding sites KHM0045 - KHM0047 so that the archaeological sites could be seen precisely within their landscape context.

For the purposes of the survey a Nikon C100 with a data logger using Fast Map FM700 logging software was used. Local grid coordinates were used from stations which were fixed to national coordinates using a hand-held GPS. The survey comprised a 3D record of the location of each find collected plus a survey of the local topography in order to place the flint within its current topographic location. This also served to illustrate current dunes where no flints were recovered. Clearly this is important as these have the potential to mask areas of flint, and thereby explain any areas absent of debitage within the site.

As each find was collected an incremented number, provided by the logger, was used as the survey reference number for each find. The extents of rubble spreads were also located at Khor Al Manahil, and the extents of structural elements at Kharimat Khor Al Manahil. To date the data has been processed using Geosite software which has provided a location plan of each find, plus a contour survey of the topography. This has also been processed in AutoCAD 2004 to provide a Digital Terrain Model. Once the lithic database is completed this will be combined with the topographic survey and exported to a GIS program (most probably ArcView). This will enable the presentation of different flint types within the topography of the site.

Here are two film clips taken during the second season:

to download a tour of the Khor Al Manahil site with commentary by Dr Mark Beech click here - MPG format 2.46 MB

to download a tour of our camp site at Khor Al Manahil complete with visiting camels click here - MPG format 7.48 MB


Here are some pictures taken during the second season:



Richard Cuttler (Birmingham Archaeology) surveying at Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)




Hamed Al-Mutairi and Dr Heiko Kallweit at Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)




Rendered visual of the lithics scatter at Khor Al Manahil showing the location of individual lithic pieces (red dots) in relation to the flat plains and sand dunes (Copyright: ADIAS)




Selection of flint artefacts from Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)



Selection of flint artefacts from Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Hamed Al-Mutairi)



Limestone mortar from Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)



From left to right: Dr Mark Beech, Richard Cuttler, Dr Heiko Kallweit and Hamed Al-Mutairi at Khor Al Manahil






Mohammed Sami (extreme left), our cook, and members of the Department of Antiquities and Tourism, Al Ain, who helped to establish the camp at Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)



Our camp at Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Drew Gardner)




Some camels who came to visit our camp at Khor Al Manahil (Photograph by Dr Mark Beech)




The Moon as viewed from our camp at Khor Al Manahil on 30 December 2004 (Photographed using a digital camera held manually against a telescope by Dr Drew Gardner)

Third Season (28 December 2005 - 23 January 2006)

An ADIAS team is currently working at Khor Al Manahil in the Umm az-Zamul region of South-East Abu Dhabi. This is a joint project of the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS), in collaboration with the Department of Antiquities and Tourism in Al Ain. The work is investigating Late Stone Age Neolithic sites discovered in this area. The team is comprised as follows:

Co-directors: Dr Mark Beech (ADIAS Senior Resident Archaeologist), Dr Heiko Kallweit (ADIAS associate and Freiburg, Germany) and Dr Walid Yasin Al-Tikriti (Department of Antiquities and Tourism, Al Ain).

Team members: Richard Cuttler (ADIAS associate and Birmingham Archaeology, University of Birmingham, UK), Suzan Al Mutawa (ADIAS researcher), Phil Glover (ADIAS associate, Abu Dhabi), Hamed Al-Mutairi (Department of Museums and Antiquities, National Council for Culture, Arts & Letters, Kuwait) and Ahmed Abdullah Elhaj (Department of Antiquities and Tourism, Al Ain).

Work is concentrated on completing the pick-up of flints from the Khor Al Manahil site, as well as the mapping and excavation of three burnt mound features.

12 March 2005
Lakes in the desert (Source: WAM Emirates News Agency)

13 March 2005
Lakes in the desert - in arabic [ also download jpeg version ] (Source: Al Ittihad)

Now, lakes in the desert! (Source: Khaleej Times)

Lakes in the desert (Source: UAEinteract.com)


Lakes in the desert - in arabic (Source: Akhbar Al Arab)


Lakes in the desert - in arabic (Source: Al Bayan)


Lakes in the desert - in arabic (Source: Al Ittihad)


Lakes in the desert - in arabic (Source: Al Khaleej)

14 March 2005
Copious rainfall gives rise to lake in desert [ also download jpeg version ] (Source: Gulf News)

Archaeological work at Khor Al Manahil

Archaeological work at Khor Al Manahil

7000-year-old flint tools from Khor Al Manahil

Dolphin to support new archaeology excavations (Source: WAM Emirates News Agency)

16 March 2005

Dolphin to support new archaeology excavations (Source: UAEinteract.com)


New Archaeology Excavations - Unique finds in 2004 of Tools and Houses from 7,000 years ago [ download english or arabic version ] (Source: Dolphin Insight - Newsletter of Dolphin Energy Ltd.)

Publications

The results of the work carried out to date were presented in a joint paper written by Dr Heiko Kallweit, Dr Mark Beech and Dr Walid Yasin Al-Tikriti at the Seminar for Arabian Studies conference, held at the British Museum in London in July 2004. This paper was published in the Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies volume 35 (2005).

Kallweit H., Beech M. & Al-Tikriti W.Y. 2005. Kharimat Khor al-Manahil and Khor Al Manahil — New Neolithic sites in the south-eastern desert of the UAE. Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 35: 97-113.
[ to download this article in Acrobat .pdf format click here (6.87 MB) ] .

Some other related publications of interest are:

Drew, C., I. Barcelo, S. Al Dhaheri, A. Al Hemeri and C. Tourenq. 2005. A Proposal to establish the Umm Al Zummoul National Park. ERWDA Internal report 03-31-0002/WSM/TP. ERWDA, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
[ to download this article in Acrobat .pdf format click here (829 Kb) ] .

Kallweit H. 2003. Remarks on the Late Stone Age in the U.A.E. Pages 55-64 in D.T. Potts, H. Naboodah & P. Hellyer (eds.), Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates: Proceedings of the First International Conference on the Archaeology of the UAE. London: Trident Press.

Uerpmann H-P. and M. Uerpmann. 2003. Stone Age Sites and their Natural Environment - The Capital Area of Northern Oman Part III, with a contribution by Stefan Scholer. Beihefte zum Tubinger Atlas des Vorderen Orients - Reihe A (Naturwissenschaften) Nr. 31/3. Dr Ludwig Reichert, Wiesbaden, Germany.

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