International researchers have discovered evidence of an early prehistoric settlement in Fujairah. The results suggest that mobile groups occupied the Jabal Kaf Addor rock shelter site in the al-Habhab region between 7,500 and 13,000 years ago.
Before the discovery, Southeast Arabia was thought to have been uninhabited for around 38,000 years, when dry conditions developed, until wetter conditions appeared around 7,000 years ago. These new findings extend the known history of settlements in the emirate, fill gaps in the archaeological record and challenge long-held assumptions about the timeline of human settlement in the region.
The research team consists of experts from Fujairah Department of Tourism and Antiquities, University of Jena, Germany, and Oxford Brookes University, UK.
Saeed Al Samahi, Director of Fujairah Tourism and Antiquities Authority, said that with the directives of the Fujairah government, the department is dedicating its efforts to developing the antiquities and heritage sector and carrying out archaeological investigations based on the scientific knowledge and international standards in cooperation. with international missions specialized in this field.
“Previous archaeological finds in the area have indicated the existence of excavated human settlements and tools dating back to the prehistoric period,” he said.
“In the study and research of Jabal Kaf Addor in the Habhab region, the department provided all logistical and scientific support to the specialized archaeological mission. The archaeological findings shed light on the history of the emirate, which dates back to prehistory and post-history, historical eras and the chronology of human settlements that continue today.
Ali Qasim, Director of Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation, said: “We are very proud of such an important archaeological discovery that rewrites the history of human settlement in Fujairah. Our cooperation with international experts and prestigious research institutions has yielded unprecedented results, highlighting the rich geological and archaeological heritage of the emirate.
Dr Knut Bretzke, the archaeologist who oversaw the excavations at the site at the University of Jena, Germany, said: “The recent archaeological discoveries at the Jabal Kaf Addor rock shelter site mark a milestone important in our understanding of human history in Fujairah. »
Dr. Bretzke further noted that the evidence discovered by our collaborative international team pushes the timeline of human occupation in the region back to around 13,000 years ago, challenging long-held beliefs about habitation patterns in Southeast Arabia.
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