Archaeologists said Monday that the oldest pearling city in the Persian Gulf had been discovered on an island off the northern shores of the United Arab Emirates.
It is believed that Siniyah Island in Umm al-Quwain was once home to thousands of people and hundreds of homes, and may date as far back as the 6th century, The Associated Press (AP) reported. Though many ancient pearling towns are described in historical writing, the discovery marks the first ever time archaeologists have uncovered one of the environments physically.
“This is the oldest example of that kind of very specifically Khaleeji pearling town,” UAE University associate professor of archaeology Timothy Power said of the discovery, according to The AP. “It’s the spiritual ancestor of towns like Dubai.”
Images of the archaeological site were shared on social media by WamNews, showing the physical structures throughout the region.
Oldest pearling town in Arabian Gulf discovered in Umm Al Qaiwain#WamNews https://t.co/VQU5PxtPev pic.twitter.com/gSIKgFrx8y
— وكالة أنباء الإمارات (@wamnews) March 20, 2023
Archaeologists previously discovered an ancient Christian monastery on the island, thought to date back some 1,400 years, The AP reported in another article. The pearling town is believed to pre-date the region’s Islamic history.
Located directly south of the monastery, the conurbation is some 12 hectares in size. “The houses are crammed in there, cheek by jowl,” Power added. “The key thing there is permanence. People are living there all year round.” (RELATED: Archaeologists Claim They Found Evidence Of Earliest Known Horseback Riders)
Homes in the area contained loose pearls, diving weights, and signals of social stratification, The AP reported. Some properties were made of simple beach rock and lime mortar, and ranged in size from single quarters to larger properties with courtyards.