French archaeological team due

The Fujairah Department of Archaeology and Heritage is preparing to receive a French archaeological team which will excavate in Al Bithna village.

The French excavators, who recently discovered three important historical sites – an old temple, an Islamic village and a defence construction and settlement in Al Bithna – will continue their work, marking the start of a new excavation season.

Ahmed Khalifa Al Shamsi, Director of the department and museum here, said: "The team is going to continue the second phase because the area still has relics. It also has two old mining sites.

"The slag found near the supposed location of the mines will be compared to some relics unearthed near the old temple. The French team is currently analysing minerals at their laboratory in Paris to be certain that the site has mines."

The French team works for the French National Research Centre in Paris. They came to Fujairah last April and carried out a survey, rounding off excavations conducted by a Swiss team in Al Bithna village in 1987, 1988 and later in 1994.