[ Visit the ADIAS archive of previous Press releases and Press coverage: 1995-2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 ] 13 January 2002 More water reservoirs found on Futaisi isle (Source: Uaeinteract.com) 2 February 2002 Bid to protect archaeological wealth on Delma (Source: Uaeinteract.com) 3 February
2002 - New Archaeological Discoveries in Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah 3 February 2002 7 February 2002 13 February 2002 More water reservoirs found on Futaisi isle (Source: Gulf News) Spanish team to resume excavations (Source: Gulf News) 25 February 2002 Study of Jebel Dhanna sulphur mines completed FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 25th February 2002 A fourth phase of archaeological investigations into a complex of sulphur mines at Jebel Dhanna, in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region, has recently been completed by the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey, ADIAS, it is announced today. The investigations were carried out with the support of the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations, ADCO, and focused on the part of Jebel Dhanna that falls within the oil export terminal facilities of ADCO. The sulphur mines, the only ones of their type known anywhere in the United Arab Emirates, were first recorded by ADIAS during an Archaeological Baseline Study of the ADCO concession area in 1998. The second and third phases of study of the mines were carried out in 2000 and 2001, and the recent work brings to an end the fieldwork component of the ADIAS study. The recent fieldwork was directed by Daniel Hull, ADIAS’s Resident Archaeologist, with the support of Stephen Rowland, an environmental archaeologist from York, in Britain. In all, a total of 180 mine shafts have been recorded by ADIAS within the ADCO terminal area, some going as deep as 10 or 12 metres into the hillside. Many are also linked to underground chambers and tunnels, with domed roofs, ledges, ventilation and light holes and steps cut in the rock to allow access from above. Preliminary estimates suggest that as much as 1500 cubic metres of rock may have been removed during the mining operations, with as much as 90 tonnes of sulphur being recovered. The remains of a number of collapsed rock shelters and water catchment systems have also been recorded by the ADIAS team, while environmental data has been recovered which will help to provide an idea of what the miners ate, and how they lived. With the fieldwork component of the investigations now completed, the ADIAS team are now analysing the finds from the mines, and are also arranging for radiocarbon dating to be carried out on ash and charcoal recovered from the vicinity of some of the shafts. This will help to provide an idea of the date of the mining operations. Pottery collected from around the mine sites is from the Late Islamic period, 100 to 400 years ago. Historical research, however, has not yielded any references to the mining operations over the last couple of hundred years, and it seems, therefore, that the main phase of activity at Jebel Dhanna may have taken place 200 to 400 years ago. A regional trade in sulphur is known from the late 17th and 18th Centuries, with records of sulphur shipments being known from mines on the Iranian side of the Arabian Gulf. Once the analysis of the finds is complete, ADIAS plans to prepare a special publication on the Jebel Dhanna mines. “We are delighted, once again, to be able to thank ADCO for their support for our work,” ADIAS Executive Director Peter Hellyer said. “Since the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey was established in 1991, we have been able to count on ADCO for support, and we are particularly grateful for the facilities they have extended to us for research in the onshore oilfields and other parts of their concession area.” ADIAS has so far identified around 125 archaeological sites within ADCO’s sphere of operations. Welcoming the completion of the ADIAS fieldwork, ADCO General Manager Andre van Strijp commented: “Under the terms of its Health, Safety and Environment, HSE, policy, ADCO is committed to the identification and preservation of the national heritage of the United Arab Emirates. In particular, it is an essential part of this policy that archaeological sites within the Company’s operational areas are protected and studied. We are delighted to have been able to work with ADIAS on the investigation of these sulphur mines, which are an important part of the industrial history of the UAE.” The Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey was established on the instructions of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1991, and operates under the patronage of His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Charged with responsibility for archaeological and fossil sites on the coast, islands and elsewhere in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region, it has so far recorded over 1000 archaeological sites. More details of ADIAS activities can be found on its website: www.adias-uae.com Issued by Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey, ADIAS PO Box 45553, Abu Dhabi Further Information from: Peter Hellyer (Executive Director): tel: 050-642-4357 or Daniel Hull (Resident Archaeologist): tel: 050-771-4942 26 February 2002 Team analyses archaeological sulphur mines (Source: Gulf News) Study of Jebel Dhanna sulphur mines completed (Source: Uaeinteract.com) 11 March 2002 New light shed on Dalma site (Source: Gulf News) New evidence for the UAE's oldest ancient village on Dalma Island (Source: www.uaeinteract.com) 14 March 2002 Important archaeological discoveries at Dalma island (Source: www.uaeinteract.com) 9 April 2002 Archaeological treasures in focus (Source: www.uaeinteract.com) Archaeological treasures in focus (Source: Gulf News) 27 April 2002 British experts undertake study of UAE crabs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 27th April 2002 Two British scientists have recently completed a study of UAE crabs. Dr. Peter Hogarth, a marine biologist from the Department of Biology at the University of York in the UK, and Dr. Mark Beech, of the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS) and a Research Fellow in the Department of Archaeology at the University of York, have been systematically recording and collecting the crab species which occur along the coastline of the United Arab Emirates. The purpose of this study is to compile a reference collection in order to identify archaeological crab remains recovered from a number of archaeological excavations in the Emirates. The crab reference collection resulting from this study will in the future be retained within the Marine Environment Research Centre (MERC) which is part of the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) in Abu Dhabi. An important part of Hogarth and Beech's work is a baseline study which maps the occurrence of modern day crab species along the UAE coastline. One of the interesting outcomes of their work is the first authenticated record in the Arabian Gulf of the crab species, Scylla serrata or mangrove crab. Although the presence of mangrove crabs has been suspected from observation of burrows, or from anecdotal evidence, no firm records existed until recently, when a single specimen was reported from Ras al-Khaimah, caught in a mangrove lagoon. A note on this has recently been published by Hogarth and Beech in the locally produced publication, "Tribulus", the journal of the Emirates Natural History Group. The mangrove crab is the largest of the swimming crabs (family - Portunidae), reaching a carapace breadth of 22-23 cm and a weight of 1.5 - 2.0 Kg. It is widespread in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, and in many areas is an important food species either trapped or reared in aquaculture systems. This species is strongly associated with mangroves, where it spends much of its life cycle, excavating burrows in the soil from which it emerges to forage. Remains of mangrove crab have been recognised at several archaeological sites in the Emirates including the Iron Age site of Rafaq in the Wadi al-Khawr, and in Sasanian/Islamic levels at Kush in Shimal, Ras al-Khaimah. The Rafaq site is located some 25 km inland from Kalba on the east coast of the Emirates. The strong association of this particular crab species with mangroves indicates that human populations were dependent on mangroves, and were already exploiting them for food and other resources like fuel and timber, as long as 3000 years ago. Why should a species, once abundant enough to be a significant food source, have largely vanished from the Arabian Gulf? The most probable explanation in this case is the loss of the mangrove habitat. In the past mangroves were much more widespread in the Gulf. Their use as timber for architecture and boat-building, as well as for fuel, has severely depleted mangroves in the Gulf, reducing them in area and diversity to relatively small patches, almost exclusively of the Grey mangrove, Avicennia marina. Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Figure 3.
Dr. Mark Beech Dr. Peter Hogarth, 28 April 2002 7 May 2002
The Airport site was first discovered on a range of low hills inside the perimeter of the Golf Club in 1995, when a short season of fieldwork was undertaken by the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey, ADIAS. That work showed that the site had been occupied during the Late Stone Age, the early to middle Bronze Age, around 3,000 BC to 2,000 BC, and in the Late pre-Islamic period, around the beginning of the Christian era. During late April, a review of the stone tools and animal remains from the site was undertaken by the ADIAS flint tools expert, Dr. Heiko Kallweit, from Germany's University of Freiburg, with the assistance of Dr. Mark Beech, ADIAS environmental archaeologist from Britain's University of York. This involved a detailed re-examination of material collected during the 1996 field season, as well as two further visits to the site, to search for new material that might have been uncovered as a result of the rains early last month. "This review and the two site visits have produced valuable new information," Dr. Kallweit said today. "The site was proved to extend further than had been originally recognised, and a nearly complete flint arrowhead was recovered on the southern fringes of the site (Figures 1-2), as well as a lot of other worked flint material. The arrowhead was of a type not previously known to have been found in the United Arab Emirates, although similar examples have been found in western Saudi Arabia and in Qatar. This find provides valuable new information on the possibility of trading routes stretching right the way across the Arabian peninsula during the Late Stone Age period." During the site visits, Dr. Kallweit also found a tiny crescent-shaped fragment of worked flint, known as a microlith, that provides useful insight into the way of life of the UAE's Late Stone Age inhabitants. Two further examples were also identified during the detailed review of material collected during the earlier phase of fieldwork. "The three pieces are "teeth" of flint that would have been set into a wooden handle for use as an early sickle or knife for cutting grasses," Kallweit said. "Once again, no evidence of such a sickle has previously been recorded in the Emirates, although examples are known from other regions in the Near East. The discovery confirms that the people were harvesting grasses or grains, although it is not possible yet to determine whether they were growing crops, or just harvesting wild plants." Along with evidence of sheep, goat and cattle bones found on archaeological sites on Dalma, in the far west of the UAE, and at Jebel Buhais, in Sharjah, the sickle pieces confirm that the Late Stone Age inhabitants of the UAE were not simple hunters and gatherers, but were a pastoral community with a much broader economic base to their lifestyle, Kallweit says. The newly-identified information has prompted ADIAS to plan for a further season of fieldwork at the Airport site next winter. James McLean, Manager of the Abu Dhabi Airport Golf Club, welcomes the ADIAS plan. "The Club and its members are proud to have such an valuable archaeological site within its course," he said. "No other golf club in the country has anything like it, and we will provide ADIAS with any facilities and help that we can in order to help them discover more information about the site. We look forward to working with ADIAS next winter on this important study into the UAE's heritage and history." The first phase of archaeological investigations at the Abu Dhabi Airport Golf Club in 1996 were undertaken by ADIAS with the support of the Chairman of Abu Dhabi's Civil Aviation Department, HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, and were supported by the Abu Dhabi Duty Free. "Our first phase of work proved the importance of this site, and we are grateful for the support provided by Sheikh Hamdan and by Abu Dhabi Duty Free, and for the way in which they have helped to preserve the site," says Peter Hellyer, the ADIAS Executive Director. "We hope that next winter's work will not only lead to yet more important discoveries, but will also show the way in which bodies like Civil Aviation and Duty Free, as well as the Golf Club, can work together with us in the protection of the country's heritage." Figure 1 - The flint arrowhead found in-situ at the Abu Dhabi Aiport site.
Figure 2 - The flint arrowhead from the Abu Dhabi Airport site.
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May 2002 8 May 2002 12
May 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE on 12 May 2002
The two sites, identified by ADIAS in 1991, on Sir Bani Yas, and 2000, on Marawah, are the only confirmed archaeological evidence of the presence of Christians in south-eastern Arabia in the period immediately before the coming of Islam in the 630s. The Director of the excavations at the two sites, Dr. Joe Elders, who is also in charge of archaeology for many of Britain's churches, and Dr. Emma Loosley, from the University of York, an expert in the early history of Christianity in the Arab Middle East, completed a two week study of the pottery and plaster from the Sir Bani Yas and Marawah sites last month. According to Elders and Loosley, a study of the plaster from the Sir Bani Yas site indicates that the inhabitants of the monastery were influenced by cultural links with Arab Christian communities in parts of the Levant, such as Syria. Historical research carried out by Elders and Loosley also suggests that the Christian communities of the Gulf were also closely involved in the pearling industry prior to the coming of Islam to the region. As part of plans for further study of the plaster, pottery and glass fragments from the sites, ADIAS will shortly be sending some samples to Britain for examination. This will permit comparisons to be made with other material from the middle of the First Millennium AD from the Gulf, Mesopotamia and Syria. Help in shipping the samples is being provided to ADIAS by the UAE representative office of oil company BP, (formerly British Petroleum), which has supported the work of ADIAS for several years. "We are delighted to be of assistance to ADIAS in their important programme of research into the heritage of the UAE," said Dr. Michael Daly, President, BP Gulf States Business Unit in Abu Dhabi. "BP has a history of nearly eighty years involvement with the country and is heavily involved in the UAE's current and future development programme, and it is a pleasure to extend this involvement into the field of historical research." Said an ADIAS spokesman ,"Over the years since ADIAS was first established, it has benefited substantially from the support extended by the local and foreign oil sector, including BP " . We are most grateful for this continued support from BP, which will help us to undertake further scientific research into the results from these two important archaeological sites." Further information from: Peter Hellyer, 12 May 2002 13 May 2002 19 June 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE on
19 June, 2002. Dating from the Late Miocene period, the fossils were discovered during the late 1980s and early 1990s by the Abu Dhabi Miocene Project, a joint research study directed by Peter J. Whybrow (Natural History Museum, London) and Andrew Hill (Yale University, U.S.A.). Support for the research was provided by the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations, ADCO. The majority of the fossils collected by the Natural History Museum/Yale University team come from Baynunah Formation outcrops located between the coast and the road from As Sila'a to Abu Dhabi. They include fossil bones of early ancestors of the elephant, hippopotamus, horse, crocodile and other animals. They indicate that at the time the animals lived, what is now Abu Dhabi's Western Region was a lush savannah type landscape with wide and slow-moving rivers, somewhat like East Africa today. In association with the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, ERWDA, ADIAS has now been assigned responsibility for study and protection of fossil sites in the coastal zone. During a meeting in London last month between Peter Whybrow and ADIAS representatives, it was agreed that a full database on the fossils would be added to the ADIAS website. Access to the new material can be gained through the following address: "We would like to thank Peter Whybrow and his team for providing such an excellent and informative guide to the Miocene fossils of Abu Dhabi" said Dr. Mark Beech of ADIAS. "This information supplements our expanding web presence as one of the major providers of information concerning the archaeology and palaeontology of the region." A full scientific account
of the geology and palaeontology of the Miocene period in the Western
Region of Abu Dhabi was published by Yale University Press in 1999 and
titled "Fossil
Vertebrates of Arabia", edited by Peter J Whybrow and Andrew
Hill. Caption: Further information from: Peter Hellyer Dr. Mark Beech 21 June 2002 17 July 2002 1 September 2002 3 September 2002 Focus
on early coastal habitats (Source: Gulf
News) 21 September 2002
Dates
were eaten in UAE, Gulf during Bronze Age (Source: Gulf
News) 30 September 2002
9 October 2002 22 November 2002 26 November 2002 30 November 2002 1 December 2002
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