Archaeologists from Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism have discovered the oldest known Neolithic village in the UAE.
Radioactive carbon testing at the site on Marawah Island dated it at around 8,000 years old, according to state news agency WAM.
The team found 10 houses, comprising several rooms and outdoor spaces for raising animals and food preparation, in good condition.
They believe the abodes, which are remarkably similar in design and construction style, were used for several hundred years.
The UAE is home to many archaeological sites dating back to the Neolithic period but the Marawah Island discovery is the first with clear structures.
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Prior to this, researchers had assumed the UAE’s population was purely nomadic and moved around constantly to find pasture and water for herds of sheep and goats.
Stable communities from the period found elsewhere in the Middle East have been associated with the rise of agriculture, sometimes described as the Neolithic Revolution.
Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi CEO Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak said the discovery painted a more accurate picture of Abu Dhabi’s history and the life of its inhabitants.
“The importance of these discoveries is not only to provide new evidence of the ancient roots of our marine heritage, fishing and trade activities, but also to be the oldest known community in the UAE and reflect the results of excavations on the island of Marawah and other sites in the coastal areas,” he said.
Archaeologists believe the settlers on the island partly chose the location because of its proximity to the Arabian Gulf, which provided by food and trading opportunities with nearby settlements.
Artefacts found on the island include a ceramic jar, the oldest known evidence of porcelain trade in the UAE, currently on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
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