Dubai: What is now a vast desert on the outskirts of Dubai was once a savannah where lions, deer and snakes thrived and people who lived in the surroundings were experts in metallic industry. For those who wonder if this is true, there is now proof that some 4,000 years ago, all of these existed.
For the first time, the public will get a sneak peek into an Iron Age civilisation that existed in Sarouq Al Hadid, Dubai’s oldest archaeological site, at a new museum that opened on Sunday.
The museum, at the traditional house of Shaikh Juma Al Maktoum in the Shindagha Heritage Village, was inaugurated by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It was Shaikh Mohammad himself who discovered this archeological site in the Rub Al Khali desert, some 70km south of the emirate towards Abu Dhabi, during a helicopter ride over the area in 2002.
Excavations that began in 2003 have so far revealed about 12,000 objects from the site and nearly 900 of them are now on display at the new temporary museum, Rashad Bukhash, director of Architectural Heritage Department at Dubai Municipality, told Gulf News on Monday.
These include dozens of ceramics, bronze, gold and iron artefacts, jewellery pieces of beads, gold, stones, as well as decorative stones, daggers, arrow heads, swords, axe heads, fish-hooks, knives, pottery and other everyday objects.
“We have found items which go back to 10000BC; that means they were as old as 12,000 years from now. These are very small items. But, most of the pieces are from the Iron Age which is from 1600BC and 600BC, probably that is when the civilisation in that site flourished.”
However, he noted that these are just around five per cent of the objects from the site which is spread across an area of 2.5kmx1.5km. “Ninety five per cent of the objects are still under the ground. It will take a long time to excavate them.”
From the objects found so far, it is believed that the site was a manufacturing area with metal factories around.
“We have found some furnaces in which they used to melt iron. Many of the items displayed here are going to change the history of this area … There is a belief that swords were not manufactured here before the Islamic era. Now (we) have proof that 3,600 years ago, people here were manufacturing swords of different sizes,” said Bukhash.
What remains a mystery, however, said Bukhash, is who these people were, why they chose to live at this site in the desert and in what kind of homes they lived in, since no traces of houses or graveyards have been found yet.
However, discoveries displayed at the museum such as bronze snakes and pottery with snake images, a dagger featuring a pouncing lion on the handle, a gold gazelle, and fossils of camels, oryx and fish give an insight into the animal world of that era in this area.
One of the most unusual objects displayed is what is believed to be a “mystery anklet”.
“We believe it used to be a camel anklet because it is four to five kilos in weight which is not possible for humans to wear,” explained Reya Saeed Al Nuaimi, a tour guide.
Carnelian beads, delicately decorated shells, bronze incense burners with feet in the shape of bull hooves and some 400 stone arrowheads of different sizes and shapes are other interesting exhibits at the museum.
Another special object is the golden ring which inspired the new logo of Dubai Expo 2020. It is not sure for what purpose these small flower-shaped rings were used.
The museum offers state-of-the-art audiovisual presentation to showcase the discovery and excavation of the site and important findings. It features an interactive experience for young visitors using replicas of the artefacts exhibited, as well as stores that sell souvenirs.
Sarouq Al Hadid Archaeology Museum
Location: Shaikh Juma Al Maktoum House, Heritage Village, Shindagha
Open to the public after Eid holidays
Opening hours: 8am-8pm (Saturday-Thursday), 4pm-8pm (Friday)
Ticket prices: Dh20 (adults and children above 12), Dh10 (children aged 7-12)
Free entry for children up to six years, adults over 60 years and special needs people
