Umm Al Quwain

Tel Abraq

This site lies between Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain, it is one of the most ancient archaeological sites in the UAE. It refers to the third century BC Umm Al Nar period in Abu Dhabi. The site was firstly excavated by the Iraqi Expedition in 1973 in collaboration with the department of archaeology & Tourism in Al Ain. Later on, the Australian Expedition continued the excavation works under the direction of Dr. Dan Potts who discovered a circular building constructed from marine stones, he also found a collection of bronze and pottery objects. The discovery of the circular fortress shows the architectural development. “Ashash Attyor” is an other coastal, archaeological site which has been covered in this area.

Alokaaab Island

The oldest sanctuary in Arabia is discovered: a dugong bone mound on Akab Island
The French archaeological mission to the United Arab Emirates and the museum of the Umm al-Quwain Emirate (UAE) have recently discovered the oldest sanctuary in Arabia (3500-3200 BC), as well as the oldest known ceremonial site dedicated to a very particular marine mammal, the dugong (Dugong dugon). These results have just been published in the international review Antiquity. The Arabian Peninsula has provided very little data on the beliefs and ancient ritual practices. On the Oman Peninsula (Sultanate of Oman and United Arab Emirates), there is no known sanctuary from the Bronze Age (3100-1500 BC) and it is not until the Iron Age (in the first millennium BC) that religious practices begin to appear. Located in the United Arab Emirates, near the Strait of Hormuz, the Akab sanctuary (3500 BC) today provides us with the first evidence of the rituals practised by the prehistoric coastal societies of the Gulf.
Akab, a fishermen’s village between 4700 and 4100 BC
Deserted today, the island of Akab is located 50 km north of Dubai in the large lagoon of Umm al-Quwain (United Arab Emirates). During the fifth millennium, more than 6500 years ago, Akab was a fishermen’s camp with circular habitations. Fishing, the principal activity of the populations of Akab, was practised with nets and with lines using hooks made from the shell of the pearl oyster. Although all the resources of the lagoon and the neighbouring mangrove appear to have been exploited, the fishermen of Akab also fished tuna, which necessitated expeditions in boats in the open sea.

Umm Al Quwain Site 2

Introduction
In 2011, a team of the French Mission to the UAE resumed excavions on the shell midden of Umm al Quwain in collaboration with C.S. Phillips. Excavations focussed primarily on the excavation of the settlement part of the site, C14 dates indicated that the site was occupied at least from 5500-5300 cal BCE, corrected by the reservoir effect to about 4000 BCE. Together with the site of Marawah MR-11, the start of its occupation dates to the oldest phase of the Middle Neolithic. These are not the first excavations carried out on the site. The site of Umm al Quwain (UAQ2) was discovered in 1992 by during tests performed on shell middens in Umm al Quwain. The site was the focus of two seasons of excavations in 1992 and 1993 (Phase 1 excavations) by C.S. Phillips. An assemblage of about forty Neolithic graves were uncovered and dating of the site was based on the chronological attribution of artefacts and sherds of Mesopotamian pottery from the Ubaid period found in the stratigraphy (from the chronology of Oates at Eridu). Radiocarbon dates could not be obtained at this time because of a lack of wood carbon. Umm al Quwain UAQ2 is located at Shobekah, at the edge of the lagoon of Umm al-Quwain, 14 km north of the city of Umm al-Quwain. The site covers much of an east-west oriented dune, 400 metres long and ten metres high, which is a relic of the major SW-NE oriented megadunes that formed the United Arab Emirates at the end of the Pleistocene (Parker and Goudie 2008). Cut by lagoons from the Neolithic due to the rise in sea level, they established the attractive high point from mid-6th Mill. BC, at least, since the start of human settlement at UAQ2 is Middle Neolithic, as is the case of S69 site / al Madar Umm al Quwain or al Qassimiya (Sharjah) and probably some other Neolithic sites in Umm al Quwain and Ra’s al Khaimah. In November 2013, we discovered at Umm al Quwain UAQ2, below the level of the Neolithic graves previously excavated by C.S. Phillips, a new grave where several males were simultaneously interred. Our hypothesis is that these men, who were pearl fishers, likely died during a conflict with another group from the former Trucial Coast. This discovery led us to question the meaning of multiple graves in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle and Late Neolithic and, more broadly, the use of certain terms in funerary archeology.

Ed-dour Site

Ed-dour Site One of the largest local towns of ” Roman ” period, was a port on the coast of Umm Al Quwain, known today by the Arab name of Ed-dour ( the houses) . The sand dunes here are littered with broken pottery pieces of building stone and seashells, silent witnesses to a substantial city, extending for over two kilometers. The potsherds include pieces from Rome and Persia, and from the Nabataean state to the north of Arabia. This was sufficient to date the place, but they are supplemented by a handful of coins which preface to the use of writing. Greek and Roman records give descriptions of the shores of the Gulf at that time. Some archaeologists suggested that Ed-dour might be the Omana, Homna port. It seems at first sight that such a large flourishing own as Ed-dour should have been abandoned without trace. In 1986, an international effort to uncover the secrets of Ed-dour was launched by teams from France, Britain, Denmark and Belgium working in turn throughout the winter. They have found that in the southern area of dunes a scatter of pottery and shells was left by seasonal settlers in the third millennium BC. Their fireplaces have been uncovered, but so far no trace of buildings found. In the north of the site another scatter of pottery and a few walls reveal a settlement of Iron Age Times. In 1974, the Iraqi archaeologists uncovered a substantial fort in the centre of the site. It was a square building with round towers at each corner, and a few smaller buildings within the walls, many of them belong to large houses, with a number of rooms and courtyards. There are many tombs which still had smooth stone floors, and one or two had rows of tilted stones at the top of the walls, the bases for barrel vaults. Many tombs have a little stone lined entrance passage at one end, and occasionally other burials have bee found in these passages. Pieces of beautiful Roman glass have been found in many tombs, and also little plaques of ivory and bone, carve with pictures of people or animals. In one fine tomb dug by the Danes near the fort, a large iron sword was found, a splendid embossed Roman glass beaker, and a bronze bowl with a ladle and strainer, with a little bull`s head for a spout. The most impressive building on the site was uncovered by the Belgian team; it is a sanctuary of some kind, with a number of stone altars and several incense burners. A large stone basin with a long inscription in Aramic writing on it. Near the altar was a well, it was the second one to be found in Ed-dour. Nearby,too, was another area with many graves, large ones for the adults, pathetics tiny ones for the many children who had died young. One baby grave had not been robed; it contained two tiny skeletons and two fine glass flasks.

Siniya Island

Introduction
Siniya Island is located one kilometer, east of Umm Al Quwain city, they are separated by Umm Al Quwain creek. The length of the island is about eight kilometers, and its width extends up to four miles. The island was of great historical importance, as residents of Umm Al Quwain have settled in it when they moved from Mulah Island, led by Sheikh Majid bin Rashid Al Mualla, two hundred years ago. Many years later, people of Umm Al Quwain have then, moved from the Siniya Island to Umm Al Quwain. Siniya Island is, topographically, flat and characterized by the existence of Mangroves, Ghaf trees and superficial plants. The island is a natural park where deers, seagulls, eagles, herons and cormorants live. There are 65 different archaeological sites in the island that contain some graves, structural remains, psoriasis hills and towers.
Firstly: The graves
There are many individual graves scattered on the outskirts of the island as well as the mass graves. Each cemetery contains from ten to one hundred tombs.

Fort Al Ali

Historical Background
Upon entering through Bab Al Sabah gate, time pulls you back in the deep history. It is exactly Umm Al Quwain fort which represents the most ancient historical building in Umm Al Quwain, it was firstly established by H.H.Sheikh Rashid Bin Majid Al Mualla,the foundator of Al Mualla Royal Family, in 1768 as a residence and venue for his Government. Having a significant effect on the memory of Umm Al Quwain citizens, this fort represents the image of their power and dignity.
It was maintaining its official and public significance till the year 1969 as the venue of the Government .In 2000, it was reopened as a museum in accordance with the directions of H.H. Sheikh / Rashid Bin Ahmed Al Mualla , member of supreme council of the UAE , ruler of Umm Al Quwain ,after it had been restored and rehabilitated.
The Royal Family Heritages Section
This section is considered the core of the museum, as it concentrates on the Royal Family Heritages; which represents indivisible part of Umm Al Quwain citizen`s history.
First : The Ruler`s Properties Room
This room contains many memorial gifts given to His Highness on different occasions . Two golden swords, one matchlock, some memorial coins and others are available there. In addition to that, a collection of old golden jewelries which reflect the traditional gold manufacturing in Arab Gulf area. Her Highness, Sheikhah Shamsah Al Majid , wife of His Highness Sheikh / Rashid Bin Ahmed Al Mualla, gave these jewelries to the museum as gifts. One of the precious contents of this room is the glazed gold Royal Family tree.
Second: The documentary film room
There is a small corner of the photos in the traditional style.

Falaj Mualla Museum

Historical significance
In 2007, His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain to begin renovations at the Falaj Al Mualla area and was the beginning of the three towers, namely: – North Tower (palm), alwastany tower and tower Bin Halles.
It rolled ordered Commissioner for the completion of renovations of historic buildings, where He ordered in 2009 restored the Falaj Al Mualla and mosque Fortress of him, which date back to the reign of Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid first in 1800, and the significance of the fort to protect the northern side and the wilderness of the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain.
Fort consists of construction of a square shape with two towers, one in the northeast and the other in the south-west, and inside a number of rooms and square, Rdhath overlooking the inner courtyard, was the use of raw materials in repairing a shingle valley and plaster mixture of gypsum.
In 2011 and after the completion of the restoration of the fortress of work ordered by His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla added tourist service facilities for the region, where they were building belonging to the Fort Falaj Al Mualla under the Antiquities and Heritage Department in the emirate and under the supervision of Professor / Alia Mohamed Rashed Al Ghafli manage tourism project – director of the Center of Umm Al Quwain effects – and the staff of the Department of Antiquities and Heritage, the project includes a number of shops in support of the youth.
Rolled restoration work in Falaj Al Mualla area where He ordered in 2014 restored the law of Falaj Al Mualla, which was built during the reign of Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid first in 1800 which is a channel of water emergence from the ground (mothers Falaj) to third parties on the surface, and moving water capability God on the tilt of the Earth in a straight path into the ground and spins derailed at a certain distance, and there Hariatan one for men and one for women.
On Tuesday, 01.12.2015, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain was opened Falaj Al Mualla fort and its accessories.

Umm Al Quwain Center Of Antiquities

The center is located in the heart of the old city of the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain, and has inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh / Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla – Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain on Wednesday, 15.06.2014, in the presence of a number of dignitaries, and the center has two halls to view the artifacts discovered in archaeological sites in the emirate by the time its history, also includes a small laboratory for the restoration of artifacts and also includes a place equipped for lectures and seminars.
The oldest pearl in the history of human kind which goes back to the Neolithic age some 7,500 years old was found in Umm alquwain . It goes back to 5500 BC after it was tested by Carbon 14.The peael is the oldest known in the Arabian Peninsula and across the world.