Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Ancient ‘House for the Dead’ Unearthed on UAE’s Marawah Island
The National ^ | March 24, 2016 | Naser Al Wasmi

Posted on 03/24/2016 2:25:11 PM PDT by nickcarraway

The skeleton of one of Abu Dhabi’s earliest inhabitants has been uncovered on Marawah Island in what historians believe was a “house for the dead”.

An archaeological dig on the Western Region island, about 100 kilometres west of Abu Dhabi city, has also revealed the first use of stone-built architecture in the Arabian Gulf, dating back 7,500 years, the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) said on Thursday.

“This partial skeleton was inserted into one of the already semi-collapsed rooms of the house, indicating that the structure had originally been used as a house for the living, and then later as a ‘house for the dead’,” said Mohammed Al Neyadi, director of the TCA historic environment department.

This form of human preservation is typical of other Late Stone Age burials, such as those from Jebel Buhais in Sharjah.

Abdulla Al Kaabi, a coastal heritage archaeologist, was responsible for the initial discovery and excavation of the skeleton.

“I had to clean very carefully around the human bones as they were extremely fragile after being in the ground for more than 7,000 years. We had to treat the bones with Paraloid B72, a special consolidant, to strengthen them before we were able to lift them,” said Mr Al Kaabi.

The skeleton, he said, was found in a crouched position on its side with its head facing east.

Findings from the excavated Stone Age Villages, known as MR I and MR II, gave insight into the lifestyles of ancestral Arabs in the Late Stone Age, at a time when region’s environment was wetter and more conducive to life.

The digs provided a first glimpse into life during the Late Stone Age in the Western Region, said Dr Mark Beech, director of the archaeological project on Marawah Island.

The climate was better then than it is today, Dr Beech said. More rainfall meant a greener landscape and more trees.

“During this time, there were freshwater lakes and more to hunt,” he said.

The civilisation from which these villages were built, he said, were not primitive by any means. The excavations showed signs that they were developed enough to have livestock and a more sedentary lifestyle.

Using the latest technology was key in unearthing findings about the civilisations that occupied the region thousands of years ago, Dr Beech said.

“The latest phase of our work on Marawah Island has concentrated on the investigation of the earliest known settlements in Abu Dhabi, namely the Late Stone Age settlements,” he said.

Perhaps the most interesting tools found include a large flint spear, which archaeologists believed may have been used for hunting dugongs or turtles.

The skeletal remains will be examined by experts to determine more about the people.

Other finds discovered within the house included shell and stone beads, stone tools and more than 200 flint arrowheads.

“There’s still a lot to be discovered. This is probably only about 5 per cent of the whole village,” said Dr Beech.

“This is a spectacular discovery. There is nothing like it in the Gulf region, and it’s been very well preserved.”


TOPICS: History; Local News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: abudhabi; dubai; godsgravesglyphs; marawahisland; neolithic; uae; ubaid; unitedarabemirates


1 posted on 03/24/2016 2:25:11 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway; SunkenCiv

“The climate was better then than it is today, Dr Beech said. More rainfall meant a greener landscape and more trees.”

Ping.
And “scientists” look at the above fact and go, “climate has changed because of maaaaan!”
Also, any zombies in the house there?
;-)


2 posted on 03/24/2016 2:28:57 PM PDT by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

“... lifestyles of ancestral Arabs in the Late Stone Age ...”

Now there’s an assumption for you ... Arabs?


3 posted on 03/24/2016 3:05:34 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Darksheare; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; decimon; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; ...
Thanks Darksheare.

4 posted on 03/24/2016 3:17:09 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

http://www.adias-uae.com/press/gulf-today-5-jan-04.jpg

interesting article out of Abu Dhabi - wonder what happened to the ‘absconders’?


5 posted on 03/24/2016 3:45:49 PM PDT by Fred Nerks (Fair Dinkum!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Fred Nerks

Thanks! I think there may be a topic about that in the FRchives.


6 posted on 03/24/2016 3:53:35 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Proving once again that there was intelligent life in the region before Mad Mo.


7 posted on 03/24/2016 5:05:52 PM PDT by sphinx
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway; SunkenCiv; All

Some time ago I read about Malta. Apparently thousands of skulls (or skeletons) were found inside a stone structure. May have been 5,000 BC or 5,000 yo. All were destroyed, none studied. May have been used for fertilizer, can’t remember for sure. What a waste!


8 posted on 03/24/2016 7:30:43 PM PDT by gleeaikin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

berts rule of archeology (true most everywhere in old times and the present)

the kids move away

the old folks die

the current thread is the example of the old folks dying and is especially true in our southwest


9 posted on 03/25/2016 5:17:53 AM PDT by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPc;+12, 73, ....carson is the kinder gentler trump.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fred Nerks

Wow, my failing memory was right for a change:
10 posted on 03/25/2016 6:39:10 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: gleeaikin

Maybe, maybe not. :') Didn't do a web search yet...
11 posted on 03/25/2016 10:32:23 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


12 posted on 08/02/2020 4:27:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson