Archaeologists from Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) have discovered the UAE’s and the region’s oldest known structures, dating back more than 8,500 years.
The finding was uncovered on the small island of Ghagha, where researchers discovered three structures that were dated to almost 6500 BC using carbon-14 analysis on fragments of charcoal recovered in situ.
The circular buildings are composed of local stone and have been preserved to a height of nearly one metre. The colony was most likely permanent, dependent on fishing and hunting for resources, as demonstrated by the discovery of highly carved stone arrowheads.
This was initially assumed that the area was first resolved during the Neolithic period as a result of lengthy maritime trade; however, the discovery on Ghagha has shown that Neolithic settlements existed prior to the onset of trade and that the first settled life in what is now the United Arab Emirates was a result of small environmental and economic conditions.
HE “The finds on Ghagha island indicate that the attributes of inventiveness, sustainability, and resilience have been part of the DNA of the residents of this region for millennia,” said Mohamed Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi.
