The Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi Emirate

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A RCHAEOLOGICAL P ERIODS E ARLIEST H UMANS

Ra's al-Khaimah

Umm al-Qaiwain

A r a b i a n G u l f

More than 1,300 archaeological sites are known throughout Abu Dhabi Emirate. These vary in size and importance from simple scatters of pottery or marine shells to large stone-built structures. The earliest evidence of human presence in Abu Dhabi is from Jebel Barakah, where stone tools believed to date from between 150,000 to 200,000 years ago

have been identified. The first major settlements and burial sites, which occur on the islands off the coast of Abu Dhabi, are dated to around 7,500 years ago. Excavations on the islands of Marawah and Dalma confirm that these people kept domestic livestock, exploited marine resources and traded with the Ubaid civilisation of southern Mesopotamia.

Ajman

Sharjah

Qatar

Dubai

Sir Abu Nu’air (Sharjah)

25°N

25°N

Taweela

Shwaib

Al Faq

Samha

Mkasib

Al Hayer

Abu Dhabi

Qaffay

Dalma

Shahama

Muhayyimat

Sweihan

Ghaghah

Sir Bani Yas

Musaffah

Marawah

Bani Yas

Yahir

Al Ain

Bu Samra

Jebel Dhanna

Al-Sulaimat

Al Khatim

As Sad

Remah

Al Khazna

Ruwais

Az Zahir

Mirfa

Ghuweifat

Sila'a

Al Hamra

Mezyed

Tarif

Jebel Barakah

24°N

24°N

Abu Dhabi Western Region

Al Arad

Habshan

Ghayathi

Al Ain Abu Dhabi

Bid al-Mutawah

Madinat Zayed

Al Wijan

Oman

Bu Hasa

Pearl Oyster Buttons Marawah Island (Late Stone Age)

Al Qua'a

Earliest Inhabitant Male skeleton from Marawah (Late Stone Age)

Mouzaira’a

Shah

Khannur

Archaeological Periods

Liwa

Late Stone Age (Neolithic) Bronze Age (5000 - 3000 years ago) (12,000 - 5000 years ago) Old Stone Age (Palaeolithic) (2.4 mya - 12,000 years ago)

Qiesah

Aradah

23°N

23°N

Hamim

Al Ain Western Region

Iron Age (3000 - 2300 years ago)

Pre-Islamic Period (2300 - 1300 years ago) Islamic Period (1300 - 200 years ago) Historical Period (200 years ago to present)

Umm Az-Zumul

Hafit Tombs at Mezyad Reconstructed Hafit tombs at Mezyad–Jebel Hafit (Bronze Age – earlier period than Umm Al-Nar)

Umm Al-Nar Tomb The Grand tomb (tomb 1059) at Hili Archeological Park (Bronze Age)

Early Stone Structure 7500-year-old stone structure at Marawah Island (Late Stone Age)

Saudi Arabia

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40 Kilometres

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