Keywords: Neolithic, stone architecture, fertile coast, Arabian Gulf, Bronze Age burial

Ghagha island is located at the westernmost extent of Abu Dhabi emirate, approximately 1km from the UAE mainland. Survey and excavation by the Department of Culture and Tourism: Abu Dhabi, has identified two previously unknown Neolithic sites on the island (GHG0014 and GHG0063). GHG0014 comprises a cluster of stone-built rooms, preserved to nearly one metre in height. GHG0063 is still under excavation but comprises ash lenses and stone features. Finds from both sites include bifacial barbed and tanged arrowheads, plaster vessels fragments and other stone implements.

Radiocarbon dates from GHG0014 indicates that it was occupied by 6500 BCE. This is considerably earlier than any known domestic architecture in the region. A single assay from GHG0063 is in broad agreement with this chronology.

In this paper we explore the implications of these discoveries for Neolithic coastal life in the Arabian Gulf, especially in light of our growing understanding in the Flandrian Transgression. In addition, we position these discoveries against the normative framework which sees trade with Ubaid period Mesopotamia as a catalyst for economic change. Lastly, we explore how both sites, in combination with the discoveries from Marawah island, can disarticulate the linear narrative of the Neolithic Revolution in the ancient Near East.

References:

Beech M.J., Al Hameli N.H., Cuttler R.T., Lidour K., Roberts H., Crassard R., Yalman N. & Davies T.  2022 . Neolithic settlement patterns and subsistence strategies on Marawah Island, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates. Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 51: 7-24.

Beech M.J., Cuttler R.T.H., Al Kaabi A.K., El Faki A.A., Martin J., Al Hameli N.H., Roberts H.M. & Crassard R. 2019. Excavations on Marawah Island (Abu Dhabi UAE): new insight into the architecture and planning of Arabian Neolithic settlements and early evidence for pearling. Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 31(1): 19-31. doi.org/10.1111/aae.12148

Beech M., Cuttler R., Moscrop D., Kallweit H. & Martin J. 2005. New evidence for the Neolithic settlement of Marawah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 35: 37-56.

Aurore Lambert and Corentin Biets from Eveha presented a paper on the recent archaeological excavations on Jubail Island on behalf of Eveha International and the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT):

Short-term coastal occupation on Jubail Island : Modern Lime Kilns and Marine Resource exploitation for artisanal activities (Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE)

Aurore Lambert, Eveha/AMU, CNRS, EFS, ADES, France
Corentin Biets, Eveha International/IPH, France
Mark Jonathan Beech, DCT Abu Dhabi
Richard Cuttler, DCT Abu Dhabi
Peter Magee, DCT Abu Dhabi

Keywords: Lime kiln, Artisanal production, Marine resources, Iron Age, Islamic period

Abstract:

As part of Jubail Island’s development process, an archaeological intervention was undertaken by Eveha International. The scientific goals were to identify and characterize archaeological settlements. Previous surveys by a team from the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) identified the potential for prehistoric and recent Islamic occupation.

The excavation revealed an Islamic lime production site from the 19th century. This included pits and kilns in two areas, that used corals and shells as raw material. No permanent settlements have been recorded and artifacts are few. The island’s mangroves and marine resources were extensively exploited. Production seems to have been opportunistic, intermittent, cooperative and on an artisanal scale. An Iron Age lime production site was also detected dating to around 1300 BC. As with other sites over the Abu Dhabi islands, the architecture of these fire places spans over a long period of time.

This excavation sheds light on a form of artisanal production that remains scarcely studied, and is part of a much larger occupation of the island that merits further investigation. They provide a valuable understanding of the island activities and resource exploitation in the recent Islamic period, alongside the contemporary evolution of coastal occupation in the area.

References:

Garfi, S. 1996. Excavations on Balghelam Island – a preliminary report. Tribulus (Journal of the Emirates Natural History Group) 6.2: 5-10.

Hellyer, P. 2002. Newly-discovered Coastal and Island Archaeological Sites in North East Abu Dhabi. Tribulus (Journal of the Emirates Natural History Group) 12.2: 5-11.

King, G.R.D. 1998. Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey: Season I – An Archaeological Survey of Sir Bani Yas, Dalma and Marawah: Season One. Trident Press: London.