Geological Formation of Qatar

Ancient and Medieval Periods

The Geological formation of Qatar

• Qatar's formation began over 700 million years ago.
• It was not always in its current form; powerful geographical forces shaped it over millions of years.
• Sea levels stabilized approximately 4000 years ago, establishing Qatar's present coastline.
• Qatar appeared as a small piece of land stretching into the sea with scattered islands in Ptolemy's map of Arabia.
• The whole area was known as Katara, belonging to old Bahrain.
• Old Bahrain included Al-Hasa, Al-Qatif, Northern Kuwaiti, Awal (modern Bahrain), Qatar, and the southern coast of Oman, inclusive of the 7 emirates (Dubai, Abu-Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras-Alkhaima, Fujairah, Um-AlQuwain, and Ajman).

The impact of the Environment on Archaeology

• Qatar's climate is similar to that of the Arabian Peninsula.
• Qatar had a rainy climate during the fourth geological era (~1,500,000 years ago).
  • Lakes and buried springs bottoms evidence this.
  • This meant plant and animal life was abundant.
• Between 4000-3000 BC, this rainy climate was replaced by a dry one.
  • By the end of the 3rd millennium BC, villages replaced buried lakes due to drought and declining water levels.
• Since 800 BC, major transformations have turned Qatar into a warm, dry area with hot winds.

Qatar during the Miocene Period (23-5 Million years ago)

• Qatar was covered by shallow tropical waters during the early Miocene.
• Sea turtles, marine crocodiles, and dugongs inhabited the area.
• Later, the Qatari land rose above sea level.
• The climate was more humid compared to today, and the land was covered in grassland and rivers.
• Freshwater crocodiles, ostriches, elephants, and giraffes roamed the land.

First Inhabitation

• Archeological finds indicate Qatar was inhabited since the tenth millennium BC.
• Population centers dating back 7,000 years ago were discovered in the south of Zubarah.
• Greek sources referenced Qatar.
• Herodotus (fifth century BC) stated the Canaanite tribes were the first to inhabit Qatar.
  • The Canaanites were known for navigation skills and maritime trade.
• Qatar was mentioned as an important commercial stop by Muslims due to its location on the route between Basra and Oman.
  • Qatar is a country on the seashore between Bahrain and Oman.

The first archaeological discovery in Qatar (Felipe's surveys)

• Archaeologist Felipe surveyed the Empty Quarter and Arabian Gulf in 1930.
• Near the Sikak oasis in southern Qatar, he discovered stone tools made of flint and fossils from the Miocene (23-5 Million years ago).
• This indicated the pre-historic existence of archaeological features in Qatar.
• Research was halted due to difficulties in the Gulf region, and lack of materials and transport for scientists and equipment.

Subsequent archaeological expeditions in Qatar

• 1956: Danish mission led by Holger Kable
• 1973: British Mission
• 1974: French Mission
• 1976: Japanese Mission
• 1980s: Local Mission
• The University of Wales Trinity and Lampeter represent the current British delegation.

Second Archaeological Mission (Danish 1960 - 1964 led by researcher Hogler Kable)

• In 1960, the mission revealed 40 sites dating back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods.
• From 1961 to 1964, Kabel and his team uncovered 68 sites, believed to be from the Palaeolithic period.

Kable'S division of Civilizations in Qatar:

• Atlas of the Stone Age Cultures of Qatar
• Group A: Old Stone Age, earliest times to 8000 BC
• Group B: Paleolithic Age about 8000-5000 BC
• Group C: Poorly manufactured tools similar to Group A, suggesting they were copies during Neolithic period
• Group D: Neolithic Age, similar to Group C with a large number of cutters.

Locations where the Danish expedition excavated

• Umm-Al-Maa
• Al-Khour
• Al-Wusel
• Umm-Taqa
• Ras Brouq
• Al-Daasa
• Osaila
• Al-Jubaijib
• Bir-Zekrit
• Orfaiq

Subsequent archaeological expeditions: the British and French

• Excavated areas: Al-Khour, Ras Brouq, Al-Daasa, Doukhan
• Ras Brouq: Inhabitants depended on hunting and fishing.
  • Stone tools, bones, fish bones, seashells, and deer bones were found.
  • The site was likely a seasonal camping location and is evidence of Gulf migrations and trade.
  • It dates back to 5000 BC during a rainy period in Qatar with plentiful vegetation and wildlife.
• Al-Daasa: west coast 50 km south of Dukhan.
  • Stone tools collected.
  • Pottery crevices from the culture of Ubaid, like those in Ur, Iraq, were likely imported, rare pieces showing Neolithic civilization.
• Conclusion: The human in Qatar Peninsula collected food and hunted fish and wildlife.

Results of Archaeological Discoveries in Qatar

• After Qatar's independence in 1971, direct connections between the Qatar Peninsula and Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and India were uncovered.
• Qatar played a significant role in the culture of the Gulf region.
• Qatar served as a link between: the Dilmun civilization in Bahrain/eastern Arabia, the Magan civilization in Oman, and the Sumerian civilization (~3000 BC).
• European missions discovered early settlements in Qatar and the Gulf region during prehistoric times.
• In the Greek and Roman periods, Qatar was a stop on the maritime trade route linking Europe to India.
• Discoveries of building materials, household items similar to those in Greece.
• The discovery of house plans in Qatar resembling those found in Greece evidence this.
• Qatar exported dried fish to Greece at the time.
• In the Sassanid era, the Arabian Gulf connected the East and West.
  • Copper, coal, sandalwood, teak wood from East exchanged for crimson dyes, clothing, pearls, dates, gold, silver from the West.
  • Qatar was in an ideal position in the pearl trade.

Sites of Human Settlement in Qatar throughout the Ages

• Oldest human settlement in Qatar dates back to the tenth millennium BC.
• Neolithic era : Al Khour, Beer Zekreet (western Qatar), Al Shaqra (southern Qatar), and Al Zarqa.
• Iron Age sites: Al luasil, Umm Al Ma, Ras Abrouq, Abu Ghannam Island. Characterized by iron tool and weapon production.
• Hellenistic era (323 BC to 64 AD) and Roman sites: Umm Al Ma, Al Khour, Abu Ghannam Island.
• The 2nd to 7th centuries AD had antiquities found at Al Mazrouah.

Examples of Antiquities Discovered in Qatar in Ancient Times

• Numerous antiquities have been discovered in Qatar.
• Houses of fishermen from the Neolithic era at the Shaqra site indicating a transition from nomadic to settled.
• Beer Zekreet had burial mounds, flint and stone weapons/tools, arrowheads, hide/tree scrapers, grain/spice mills and limestone hand axes.
• These confirm Qatar's significant geographical role in Qatar and its contact with the Dilmun and Ubaid civilizations in Mesopotamia and Persia.

Medieval Times

• Before Islam, Qatar was a part of Bahrain. Bahrain stretched from Basra to the coasts of Oman by sea, and to the borders of Al-Ahsa, Kuwait, and surrounding areas by land.
• It was ruled by the Arab Lakhmids.
• The Prophet Muhammad sent Abu Al-Ala Al-Hadrami to Bahrain's ruler, Mundhir bin Sawi Al-Tamimi.
  • Al-Tamimi, represented the Al-Sassanids kings in Persia, and was invited to embrace Islam.
  • Al-Tamimi responded and advocated for conversion.
• This event marked Qatar's inclusion in Islamic civilization.
• During the Rashidun Caliphate and Umayyad Caliphate, Qatar promoted Islam to Persia and India.
  • Qatar helped equip the first naval fleet to transport the Islamic army for jihad under Abu Al-Ala Al-Hadrami.

When Qatar entered Islam and how?

• Qatar entered Islam in the middle of the seventh century AD (8 Hijri).

• Al-Mundhir ibn Sawi al-Tamimi, king of the Arabs and ruler of Qatar/surrounding areas, converted.

  • He was invited to Islam the Prophet Mohammed's envoy, Alla Al-Hadrami.

• In the 2nd century AH, Qatar experienced an economic boom.

  • This boom was under the Abbasid caliphate in Baghdad, which allocated wealth to its patronized countries.

• Post conversion to Islam, Qatar helped assemble the first naval fleet for jihad, led by Abu al-Ala Hadrami. -Yaquot Al-Hamaoui noted Qatar supported Muslims to attack Persia and gave camps in southern Iraq.

Qatar's geographical location and its importance in the Islamic era

• Earliest documented origins of the country's name: -Earliest mentions were found in Muslim geographers' wiritngs. -Qatar as peninsula located between coasts of Oman and borders of Al-Ahsa was recorded by Al-Bakri (died 1049).
• Firuz Abadi (1329-1414) mentioned the name. -Al-Firuz was a lexicographer, who described Qatar as a station from Basra to Oman.
• Yaqut al-Hamawi died in 1228, said it was a village between coasts of Oman and Al-Uqair. -Al-Hamawi noted Qatar made textiles.
• Hawar, Halul, and Shara'u are among Qatar's islands. -Islands were of economic and commercial importance. -They had many palm trees and water. -served as rest stops and sources of fresh water for traveling ships. -Writers: Al-Mas'udi, Al-Idrisi, and Al-Hamdani
• Islands (Hawar, Halul, and Shara'u) still have same historocal names. -Idrisi refers to these "uninhabited" islands as "attraction points" -to seabirds that would gather -Commercial ships took waste to Basra to sell as fertilizer. -The islands also served as areas For commercisl ships heading from Basra to the Indian Ocean.
• The Arabian Gulf area has been known for its trade routes. -Connected the East to the West historically.
• Strategic location helped the region control important trade routes.
• After Islam, the people traded with the easterb coast of Africa and Southeast Asia.
• Trade peaked during third and fourth centuries AH (9th & 10th centuries AD).
• The people traded with Europe, acting as intermediaries for goods travelling India between China
• Coastal cities (basra, siraf, hormuz al-ahsa sohar experienced commercial growth). -Items were spices, wood, cotton, silk, paper, musk, gold ,slaves. -Goods from Europe were traded through these ports.
• Qatar is on the western coast of the Arabian Gulf. A huge commercial hub. -Sea route connects Iraq with Indian ocean ports and coast of Africa -Via Basra, Qatif & Sohar. -Qatar's creeks are ports to commercial ships.
• Land route linking Iraq, Oman, Arabian Peninsula.
• Merchants and pilgrims used Qatar to get water and supplies.

Qatar's economy in the Islamic era

• Before and during the early Islamic Era Qatar was a strategic commercial landmark -Trade caravans traveled from Iraq, Oman, The Arabian Peninsula.
• Qatar inhabitants were engaged in trade ,navigating, textile industries, camel trading, grazing.
• The people of Qatar bred camels.
  • Known as qataris after Qatar.
  • Good source of income. -Served as transporation
  • Benefited from : meat, milk, wool.
• Those who did not camels for trading , rented them.
• Commerical caravans from : Iraq, Oman, Arabian peninsula made use of these services.

Economy in the Islamic Era (Textiles)

• Qatar was known for expertise in manufacturing and weaving clothes -Textiles known as Qatari . Good quality, distinct colors, soft texture. -Prophet Muhammad wore garments of its fabric. -Aishah Umm Almoumneen wore shields made of Qatari Fabrics . -Omar Ibn Al- KhatTab- Patched Qatari Izar .

What textiles are well Known:

• Qatari Bourda. -Qatari Izar.

• Honl (plural of houllah ) mens clothing consisting of robe, shirt and turban.

• Asab- striped robes.

• Turbans - ceremonial wear.

• Woolen textiles. They exported large quanities of raw fabric and clothing. The trading durning the islamic Era. -Ancient traders were activley involved in marketing.

  • Markets in the Arabian Peninsula and regions .

• Benefited from Large Arab Markets -Hajar . Aimashgar.

  • Traders from :Persia, India, Arab Countries

• Qatari products traded : Not available in .

• Pearl traders traveled distanly to : -lindia. -Simidh. -Africa to sell pearls extracted from water.