Sharjah Archaeology Authority organized, in its headquarters located in Helwan area, Sharjah, an introductory meeting on its most important publications in the field of archaeology, and its achievements in the field of research and exploration in the regions affiliated to the Emirate of Sharjah. The meeting was held on the occasion of Sharjah City’s celebrating its receiving the Tile of Global Capital of Book 2019 G.
Issa Yousef, Director of the Department of Archaeology and Physical Heritage at Sharjah Archaeology Authority, reviewed a number of practical contributions made by the Authority during a long period of important researches, theoretical and applied work in the field of archaeology, studies, discoveries and continuous excavations, which accompanied these efforts and strengthened them with qualitative issues and new results and information. It was first published, and it received wide media coverage, on local, Arab, and international levels.
At the beginning of his speech, Issa Yousef praised the visions, directives and support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, may God protect him, which had a great result during the past four decades in developing the archaeological work in the Emirate, and in enriching the international contributions of Sharjah Archaeology Authority in the most important international events hosted by the ancient international museums specialized in archaeology, displaying archaeological pieces and publishing studies related to this cultural field, which reflects the history of peoples, human migrations and major human transformations over thousands of years. The achievements of the authority were presented in the field of archaeological awareness, and the preservation of the cultural heritage of Sharjah in the field of archaeology and archaeological discoveries. In the second topic, the efforts of the Emirate of Sharjah in the field of protection and management of archaeological discoveries were discussed, while the third part was dedicated to reviewing a set of new versions of the authority in the field of protection. The monuments and cultural heritage of the emirate. During the meeting, the activities carried out during the last phase were discussed, including the activity of restoration, maintenance and documentation of monumental buildings, and having partnerships with foreign archaeological missions within the framework of mutual cooperation, which are the missions coming from Belgium, Germany, Japan, Spain, Portugal, and America.
Each expedition had specific tasks and specializations in various fields in coordination with the Authority and local archaeological teams.
The achievements made by the authority, including proving the southern migration route from Africa to the Arabian Peninsula during the early stone ages, in which hominids (Homo Erectus and Homo Sabinas) were able to cross shallow lakes near the Bab al-Mandab to reach Arabia, and then proceeded to Asia and Europe in a wide and protracted movement of human migrations, which paved the way for the emergence of different civilizations around the world.
Mr. Yousef stated that the results of this great discovery have been published in the leading scientific magazines, and they have been highlighted by such big leading media including “BBC”, and “Nature” Magazine, and other well-known magazines and TVs. Sharjah Archaeology Authority is keen to promote the archaeological map of Sharjah emirate through researches on the archaeological sites therein. This is addition to carrying out excavations for antiquities, and the restoration and maintenance of archaeological items as a historical, national and human heritage, stressing that the monuments do not only bear historical significance and value, but also contribute to attracting large groups of tourists and those interested in these valuable holdings. Participants in the meeting witnessed the side exhibition, which included a collection of the authority’s latest versions of books and annual magazines on topics related to archaeology, heritage, history, and architecture, most notably: “Al-Wajeez in Early Islamic Architecture” book, prepared by K.A. Crusel, edited by James Wilson Allen, and translated by Abdullah Ali Al-Rehaibi, and the book “Prehistory and the Near Modern Geology” in “Qurainiya – Libya”, authored by S.B.Makbirne and W.H. and translated by Dr. Sabah Aboud Jasim, along with the Authority’s official magazine.
The attendees visited the permanent exhibition in Sharjah Archaeology Authority, which includes a large number of valuable and rare archaeological finds and pieces, which have been discovered since the beginning of the eighties of the last century, in various sites in the Emirate of Sharjah, which proves the ancient history of the Emirate, including the important discoveries in Mleiha, Which proved that the oldest mention of the Kingdom of Oman was at the end of the third century BC, in contrast to what was known about it when it was mentioned in classical writings during the first century AD, and this writing can be seen on the distinctive and unique tombstone in the Arabian Peninsula, and it is the only one that carries two types Among the lines are the Musnad and the Aramaic. At the end of the meeting the delegates had a tour in the laboratory where they the ways applicable in examining archaeological items and restoration thereof.
