Lecture: The Prehistoric Archaeology of Abu Dhabi's Coast and Islands by Dr. Mark Beech

Notes : The archaeology of Abu Dhabi's coastline dates back to around 150,000 years ago, as witnessed by the discovery of Middle Palaeolithic stone tools at Jebel Barakah. Excavations on both Marawah and Delma Islands demonstrate that Neolithic peoples were already engaged in trade, pastoral nomadism and maritime subsistence as long ago as 7,500 years ago. The island of Umm an-Nar acted as an important trading port during the Bronze Age, around 4,500 years ago, for the export of copper from 'Magan'. Ancient geographers such as Ptolemy speak of the land of the "fish-eaters" (ichthyophagi). A combination of archaeological and historical evidence will be discussed to illustrate Abu Dhabi's prehistoric maritime heritage.

About the Speaker :Dr Mark Jonathan Beech has a Bachelor of Sciences honours degree in Archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, U.K. (1982-1985), a Masters degree in Environmental Archaeology and Palaeoeconomy from the Department of Archaeology at the University of Sheffield, U.K. (1986-1987), and a Phd in Archaeology from the Department of Archaeology at the University of York, U.K. (1998-2001). Since the early 1980’s Dr Beech has carried out extensive archaeological research and fieldwork in the U.K., France, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Jordan, Pakistan, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman. He has been involved in archaeological research in the UAE for the past two decades, being Senior Resident Archaeologist for the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (1994-2006), and, then Cultural Landscapes Manager in the Historic Environment Department at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (2006-2012). He is presently the Head of the Coastal Heritage and Palaeontology Section of the Historic Environment Department at theAbu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi). He is also an Honorary Visiting Fellow at the Department of Archaeology at the University of York, UK. His research interests are focussed on the prehistory of the Arabian Gulf, the Late Miocene palaeontology of Al Gharbia, and the archaeology of the coast and islands of Abu Dhabi emirate.