Archaeological Story of the UAE
THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL STORY OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Manarat Al Saadiyat
The story of archaeology in the United Arab Emirates began in the 1950s with the excavation of Bronze Age tombs on Umm an-Nar Island by Danish teams, at the personal invitation of Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, then ruler of Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE, also took a keen interest in the archaeologists’ work and accompanied his brother Sheikh Shakhbut to see the site. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan understood the importance of unearthing his nation’s unique past and encouraged more archaeological excavations in Abu Dhabi and across the emirates. This led to the expansion of archaeological work in the United Arab Emirates, revealing its rich ancient heritage.
Speakers:
- Peter Magee, Director of Zayed National Museum, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
- Eisa Yousif, Director of Excavations and Archaeological Sites, Sharjah Archaeology Authority
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