Archaeology on Marawah Island

Study Notes

Archaeology is a team effort involving many specialists and professionals working together on projects.
The focus of the talk is on life between 7,000 and 8,000 years ago on the island of Marawah, located west of Abu Dhabi.
Marawah Island is known for its rich archaeological sites dating back to the late Stone Age.
The island's geography consists of rocky core areas with archaeological sites concentrated in these zones.
Marawah Island is a biodiversity hotspot, with diverse environments from mountains to coastlines.
The island is part of marine and terrestrial protected areas recognized by the Abu Dhabi government.
The first systematic survey of Marawah Island was conducted in 1992, revealing several archaeological sites.
The site MR11 on Marawah Island is strategically located on a limestone plateau with Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Islamic period sites.
Excavations in MR11 have uncovered well-constructed structures with thick walls dating back to prehistoric times.
Recent excavations have been conducted by local archaeologists in collaboration with tourism and culture authorities, continuing the research efforts on the island.- Obaid pottery, manufactured in Iraq between 5500 BC and 4000 BC, was found at Marawah Island, giving a ballpark figure for dating the site.
Arrowheads found at Marawah Island show a typology evolving from facade points to trihedral points to notched and tanged arrowheads.
Radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples at the site suggests continuous occupation from about 6500 years ago to nearly 8000 years ago.
Climate history shows warmer, wetter climates during the Neolithic period (10,000 to 6,000 years ago) in the region, with evidence of lakes in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Sea level changes, with estimates of the Gulf being two meters higher than present around 6,000 BC, impacted settlements and facilitated maritime connections.
Excavations at Marawah Island revealed a strategically located settlement with well-preserved architecture dating back to around 8,000 years ago.
Human remains, including a male skeleton, were found at the site, with attempts made to extract DNA for analysis.
Additional human bones were discovered in different rooms at the site, indicating potential disturbances to the burial assemblages.
Ongoing research includes bone preservation techniques, CT scans of bones for analysis, and comparisons with other Neolithic burial sites in the UAE like Jebel Buhais.- Sabet Jassim, along with Professor Hans Peter and Margaret Airmen, presented replicas in the Sharjah museum and studied animal bones indicating a mix of hunting and domestication.
The burials in Djebel Bura, despite being inland, showed strong connections to the sea through shell jewelry and artifacts found.
In the Sharjah museum, over 24,000 beads were discovered, with a remarkable skull displayed showing intricate details like a pearl over the nose.
Special plaster vessel fragments with painted decorations were found on Dalma Island, showcasing unique local decorative art.
Stone tools like arrowheads, tile knives made from local tabular flint, and imported ground stone tools were discovered at the excavation site.
Food remains at the site included marine shell caches, sheep and goat bones, evidence of gazelle, fish bones (including large fish like sharks and tuna), and dugong bones.
Unique findings included a dolphin jaw with carvings, shell jewelry like tiny shell beads and buttons made from pearl oyster, and black stone bangles.
The excavation process involved meticulous documentation, including layer relationships, sketch plans, site logs, finds registers, and detailed recording of each find.
The Marawah settlement consisted of seven mounds with a complex three-part house design and recent excavations revealing more intricate structures than previously thought.
Marawah Island is significant for its environmental beauty, archaeological sites, and rich marine resources that attracted prehistoric people between seven to eight thousand years ago.

Description

Learn about the rich archaeological sites dating back thousands of years on Marawah Island, including the discovery of ancient settlements, human remains, and artifacts. Explore the environmental history, excavation techniques, and ongoing research efforts on this biodiversity hotspot.