Department of Culture and Information

SHARJAH ARCHAEOLOGY AND EXCAVATIONS IN SHARJAH

Sharjah had witnessed, continuously for the last several years, vast and extensive archaeological surveys in a number of sites throughout the Emirate. The responsibility is shouldered by the Archaeological Section of the Directorate of Archaeology, under the Department of Culture & Information, in association with several foreign and local missions.

The local mission:

A plan was set up with this mission to make a complete archaeological survey covering most of the Sharjah Emirate starting from the Western coast of the Arabian Gulf, through the middle sector to the Eastern coast of the Gulf of Oman - Khatam Milahah at Kalba till Dibba. In those surveys a number of archaeological sites were traced and fixed in the Archaeological map of the Emirate.

The aim was to do excavations in more sites in order to trace artifacts as historical documents to get a clear picture of what happened at these sites in the past. The following are the most important archaeological sites.

Interior and costal sites:

Jabal Buhais area lies in Al Madam plain. A series of archaeological sites in this area were excavated, including those actually inhabited and sites used for burial (cemetery). So far 78 sites were excavated corresponding to many pre-historical periods starting from the early 5000 century BC, covering the Bronze & Iron ages and the pre-Islamic period. The local mission was able to discover for the first time a major and prominent settlement at Khor Fakkan, corresponding to 2000 BC period. In additon they have discovered Al Hamriyah sites on the western coat of the Arabian Gulf and Abu Shagarah. In both the sites pottery were found dated back to Al Obaid period - 5000 BC.

Mleiha site

This site is 20 km south of Al Dhaid city, and 50 km east of Sharjah city.
Mleiha is the only known large settlement in the three centuries before the Christian era and after it. The existence of the fort probably an administrative building beside the abundant imported materials, inscribed ceramics, quite varied activities such as iron and copper metallurgy add to his the specialization of certain workshop indicates an organization unsuspected and a stable power which controlled all or part of the economic activity of Mleiha.

Also evidences suggest that people of Mleiha buried their dead in huge monumental tower tombs, bodies placed in the underground burial besides their possessions such as camels, horses and valuable properties.

It is found that Mleiha the largest of buildings suggest the existence of distinct market districts. The findings also suggest that the trading routs brought wealth and influence to the region and allowed them to trade with distant countries important goods found in Mlieha include black glazed pottery, frankincence and pottery from Greece, important Arabian exports transported over land by carawan or by sea to the Mediterranean countries. However Al Mahata coins appeared to have been made in moulds demonstrates that it is still a major site.

Foreign missions at Sharjah Emriate:
Each year many foreign missions come to Sharjah to conduct diggings and excavation in its various archaeological sites we refer here to each mission's activity.

The German mission
The mission works in co-operation with the local mission in excavating and sketching the skeleton remains at Al Buhais site as mentioned before.

The French Mission
This mission was working since 1984 in Sharjah. Its main activity is diverted to revealing the archaeological features during the period from the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD.

Spanish Mission
This is related to Madrid University and for a couple of years it was carrying its excavation at Al thigaiba site in Almadam plain. During the last two years its activity resulted in exploring a settlement and a number of findings dated to the 1st century BC.

The First Australian Archaeological Mission
Headed by Dr.Dan Pots from Sydney University, this mission works at Tell Al Abrag site and this site is regarded as one of the most important site in East Arabia. The exvations revealed a sort of successive periods of occupation started since the 3rd century BC and continued till the 1st Century BC.

The Second Australian Archaeological Mission
Headed by Dr Peter Maggi of Sydney Univeristy, the mission carried its activity at the Mleiha site near the Sharjah International Airport. During the last few years a part of the large settlement was found corresponding to the half of the first century BC.

The British Archaeological mission
Under the supervison of Mr Carl Philips, this mission is working in Kalba region on the Eastern Coast or Sea of Oman. The last two years of work revealed many layers corresponding to the 3rd century BC and up to the first century BC.

The Spanish mission for map drawing:
Also this mission is related to Madrid University headed by Dr.Mercides Firgass. This mission is responsible for arranging a complete archaeological topographical and tourist map covering most of Sharjah regions.

Japanese mission
This mission headed by Dr Tatsu Sasaki is related to Canazawa University. The team conducted a number of surveys map drawings and a number of archaeological excavations in many Islamic sites at Khor Fakkan.

Norwegian marine archaeological mission
This mission related to Oslo University performs underwater excavations at the Sharjah coasts.

For more information please contact us on the following address:

Contact address:
P O Box:5119, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Tel #:00971-6-5665466,
Fax#:00971-6-5660334.
e-mail: archeo@emirates.net.ae
website : www.archaeology.gov.ae