Mleiha: Arabian Caravan Kingdom at the Sea Silk Road

Sharjah is one of the seven Emirates composing the UAE. It is located in the central part of Oman Peninsula, having access to Arabian Gulf at the west and Oman Sea, inflowing into the Indian Ocean at the east. With the territory of 2,590 sq. km, and the population of 1.8 million the Emirate is the third biggest in the federation.
The territory of Sharjah is composed of Central Region, where its capital Sharjah City is located and 6 exclaves: Dibba al Hisn, Khor Fakkan, Kalba, located at the Oman Sea coast, Shees in the Shumayliyyah mountain area, near Khor Fakkan, Wadi al Helo in Hajar mountains, not far from Kalba, and Nahwah, totally surrounded by the territory of Oman Sultanate, Omani enclave of Madha inside the territory of the UAE.
The Sharjah Archaeology Authority, which is part of the Sharjah government, thoroughly archaeologically examines all the territory of the Emirate, including all the enclaves. The ruler of Sharjah pays a special attention to the cultural life in the Emirate. Being the home of 16 museums, Sharjah is called the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates.
The Arabian Peninsula became the first place where humans came outside Africa and where they settled. That is why findings here are of primary importance for the human history in general.

Remarks

1. This is a publication for the special exhibit “Treasures of the Ancient Arabian Maritime Caravan Kingdom from Sharjah” (6 July 2024 – 1 September 2024; 28 September – 15
   December / Organized by MIHO MUSEUM, the Sharjah Archaeology Authority)
2. The item numbers in this publication and the exhibit numbers in the galleries are identical with the registration number of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority.
3. [Essay] Sergey Lapcheff; [Explanation of works] Sergey Lapteff, Hajime Inagaki; [Supervision] Sabah Aboud Jasim, Eisa Yousif, Hajime Inagaki; [Composition] Hajime
   Inagaki; [Front page design] Amna al Ali; [Illustration] Hajime Inagaki,Tomomi Mukaiyama.
4. Color photographs by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, Kamiar Kamiab, Sergey Lapteff