Kush archaeological dig ends, now analysis begins

The Kush archaeological dig in the Shimal area of Ras Al Khaimah will come to a close at the end of this month. The six-year project was organised by the Department of Antiquities and Museum of Ras Al Khaimah, sponsored by Shell Companies in the UAE and the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah, and supported by the British Museum and University of Durham.

Project director Derek Kennet said, "While the actual digging at the site has stopped, the work goes on and for us as archaeologists much of the exciting and interesting work in examining the finds and trying to create a picture of life at Kush in the past is yet to come.

"The excavation at the site has revealed a sequence of deposits showing evidence of occupation of more than 1,000 years, dating from the 4th century AD to the 14th century. "A careful analysis of the material from these layers is starting to indicate that the rise of Islam in this area may have been accompanied by major economic or environmental changes.

"We hope that this will become increasingly clear as we finish the study of the seeds, animal bones, pottery, glass and other materials from the site," Kennet said. "We believe that the site of the Kush dig was a Sassanian colony, established in Arabia at the beginning of the Sassanian period.

"The site had previously been a well organised one and changed over the years with the development of different occupations. "Our latest find showed a massive rectangular mud-built tower, measuring 14 metres by eight metres with two-metre thick walls which could have stood 15 metres high.

"This is completely unique in Arabia and is our first evidence of what people might have been building in this region at that time," Kennet said. "At present, we are talking to the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Antiquities and Museums to see how the site might be best preserved for tourists to visit and to keep this fascinating example of Ras Al Khaimah's history preserved for future generations.

"A great deal of the finds at the site have been taken back to the UK for scientific examination and dating by some of the many experts who have been working on the dig. "We are also working on a book which we hope to publish so that the importance of this site can be understood by the general public."

Kennet, who praised Shell for its support of the project, said he hoped to return to Kush in the future. "The site has a great deal of potential - and we hope that we will be able to attract sponsorship support in the future to enable us to return."