Archaeologists from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have discovered several houses believed to be the oldest ever found in the country, with some dating back at least 8,500 years.
Unearthed during an archaeological program initiated by the UAE’s Department of Culture and Tourism, these structures are located on Ghagha Island, west of the capital Abu Dhabi. The houses feature a simple circular room design. Over time, the structures have suffered some damage, but many walls still stand nearly 1 meter high.
Site of the discovery of ancient houses in the UAE.
The research team stated in a release: “It is very likely that these are the homes of a small community that lived on the island for many years.”
They further noted that this discovery indicates the existence of a Neolithic settlement prior to the development of maritime trade routes.
In addition to the houses, hundreds of artifacts have also been uncovered. Among these are intricately crafted stone arrowheads used for hunting. It is likely that the community that once lived here utilized tools to take advantage of the abundant resources from the sea.
Archaeologists are still uncertain about how long the settlement was inhabited. However, the research team did find a skeleton within the settlement. Through examination, the remains were estimated to be around 5,000 years old.
Mohamed Al Mubarak, Director of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, emphasized: “The new discoveries on Ghagha Island demonstrate the innovation and sustainability of the community that lived here for thousands of years.”
This is not the first time the UAE has discovered “super ancient” houses. The previous record was held by homes located on Marawah Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi, which are about 8,000 years old. With these new archaeological findings, experts suggest that Abu Dhabi may not be as “arid and harsh” as commonly thought.
