2024 (4 July) - Exploring the Coastal Neolithic of Eastern Arabia - a lecture by Kevin Lidour for the International Association for Archaeological Research in Western & Central Asia (ARWA).
Despite significant fieldwork conducted over the past decades, the Neolithic period (c. 6500-3300 BCE) in Eastern Arabia remains poorly defined culturally. This period is characterized by a lack of agriculture and only vaguely defined pastoral practices, making the definition of a regional Neolithic economy a subject of debate. In this presentation, we propose to explore another aspect of the cultural evolution of human societies in Eastern Arabia at the dawn of the Holocene: ancient maritime adaptations. These adaptations not only support the theoretical construction of a regional Neolithic but also attest to the development of a maritime culture with a sophistication level rarely equaled in Southwest Asia.
2023 (22 September) - People Of DCT Abu Dhabi - Noura Al Hameli
2023 (6 May) - The Sociocultural Context of Funerary Practices in the Arabian Neolithic - a lecture by Noura Hamad Al Hameli for the International Association for Archaeological Research in Western & Central Asia (ARWA).
The most recent seasons of excavation on MR11 - Area F have led to the discovery of several interments inside the cells of the main structure. This season uncovered the UAE’s oldest example of a primary Neolithic interment within a central cell of the building. Several other individuals have been buried in the neighboring cell of the structure, with a minimum count of at least five individuals in one single cell. Radiocarbon dates have placed the associated deposits at around 5700 cal BC, which also provides an earlier date for the MR11 settlement. This lecture will focus on the possible mortuary rituals observed from Area F along with some key finds from the season, and place this within the broader context of the Neolithic burials in the region.
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2019 (20 December) - Protecting the Past: the work of the Historic Environment Department at the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi - a lecture by Dr Richard Cuttler at the EAMENA conference: Protecting the Past 2018
2019 (29 January) - The Submerged World of the Arabian Gulf - a lecture given by Dr Richard Cuttler at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD)
The Arabian Gulf has one of the longest and richest seafaring traditions anywhere in the world. Prior to 8,000 years ago sea levels were considerably lower and the land to the north of the Emirates was an open and potentially fertile landscape. This landscape is an untapped resource, offering the prospect of not only ancient wrecks, but discoveries from the distant prehistoric submerged landscape of Abu Dhabi. This talk delves into the intricacies surrounding the Arabian Gulf as it relates its' position as an archaeological treasure.
2018 (19 September) - Life in Stone Age Abu Dhabi: Excavations on Marawah Island - a lecture given at New York University Abu Dhabi by Dr Mark Jonathan Beech.
Archaeological discoveries from an ancient village on Marawah Island located in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region reveal the presence of a sophisticated and skilled population that traded and thrived during the Neolithic period. Artefacts excavated provide a comprehensive picture of life in the UAE around 8,000 years ago. The people living there constructed stone-built houses, amongst the earliest examples of such architecture discovered in the Arabian Gulf. These people herded sheep and goats, and used stone tools to hunt animals like gazelles. The presence of fish, dugong, turtle and dolphin bones suggest that seafood was an important part of their diet. This talk delves into the above topics and examines their historical scope in greater details. Speaker: Dr Mark Jonathan Beech, Head of Archaeology (Al Dhafra & Abu Dhabi), Historic Environment Department, Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT).
2018 (13 April) - Archaeology Conference 2018 - Mai Hareb Al Mansoori presents a paper entitled: Broken Pot Sherds on a Desert Island: Pottery Analysis from the Saadiyat Coastal Heritage Project, 2015-2017
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2018 (13 April) - Archaeology Conference 2018 - Dr Mark Jonathan Beech presents a paper entitled: Broken Pot Sherds on a Desert Island: Pottery Analysis from the Saadiyat Coastal Heritage Project, 2015-2017
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2018 (13 April) - Archaeology Conference 2018 - Dr Joseph Elders presents a paper entitled: The Christian monastery on Sir Bani Yas island: planned expansion and disorderly decline.
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2018 (10 April) - Archaeology Conference 2018 - Dr Richard Cuttler and Dr Mark Jonathan Beech present a paper entitled: Recent archaeological excavations at MR11, Marawah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
click here to view Dr Richard Cuttler giving an introduction to the archaeology of the site.
click here to view Dr Mark Jonathan Beech explaining the significance of finds from the site.
2018 (10 April) - Archaeology Conference 2018 - When Elephants walked in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region: new evidence for a series of Late Miocene Proboscidean trackways
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2018 - Archaeology Conference 2018 - Peter Hellyer presents a paper entitled: Tell them "thank you – and carry on" – Sheikh Zayed and the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey.
Peter Hellyer recounts the story of the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey, its establishment and the highlights of the discoveries made by it between 1992 and 2006.
2016 (26 May) - The Neolithic & Bronze Age as Cultural Roots of UAE Identity - a lecture given by Dr Sophie Méry at New York University Abu Dhabi.
This talk takes us back thousands of years through some of the oldest archaeological sites in the UAE, beginning with Neolithic sites dating to the Mid-6th millennium BCE. New technology, such as agriculture, pottery, and copper metallurgy, began to appear at the beginning of the Bronze Age (Hafit Period from 3200-2600 BCE). During this period, trade exchanges of goods between Baluchistan and Mesopotamia began to grow, but the apogee of the Umm an-Nar culture’s new trading partnership was with the Indus Civilization (2500-2200 BCE). Towards the end of the 3rd millennium, global aridity led the Bronze Age communities to reorganize themselves into the Wadi Suq culture.
2011 - Sir Bani Yas - Abu Dhabi: Pre-Islamic Monastery
This film features some of the original footage filmed during the first two seasons of excavations which took place in 1994 and 1995 at the church and monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island.
2004 - Ubaid vase from site MR11 - area A on Marawah Island, Abu Dhabi emirate, UAE
2004 - Limestone mortar dating to the Neolithic period - found at Khor al Manahil, Abu Dhabi emirate, UAE
2004 - Fathy Mohammed Abdulla gives a guided tour around the al-Muhannadi mosque on Delma Island, Abu Dhabi emirate, UAE
2004 - Dr Geoffrey King gives a guided tour around the al-Muhannadi mosque on Delma Island, Abu Dhabi emirate, UAE
2004 - Dr Geoffrey King gives a tour around the al-Muraykhi mosque on Delma Island, Abu Dhabi emirate, UAE
2003 - Making a scale model of Stegotetrabelodon emiratus for the exhibition "Abu Dhabi 8 Million Years Ago"
Last updated: 25 September 2025