emirates7 - H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, hosted a group of international archaeology experts at the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre.
The meeting, attended by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who serves as the ambassador for the international nomination of the Al Fayha Heritage Site, focused on the significant archaeological, historical, and diverse topographical characteristics of the Mleiha region.
The discussions also covered Sharjah’s efforts to preserve archaeological sites, ongoing excavation work, and the importance of non-intrusion and development within heritage areas, ensuring adherence to the regulations set by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Ruler of Sharjah highlighted that the Al Fayha region is among the most significant Stone Age sites in the Arabian Peninsula and globally, holding important evidence regarding early human migration. With numerous archaeological discoveries, it is a strong candidate for inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
He emphasized that the goal of designating Al Fayha as a World Heritage Site is to safeguard cultural heritage for future generations, share it with a global audience, and promote it.
The Al Fayha mountain site exemplifies the desert environment during the Stone Age, illustrating early human settlement from the Middle Stone Age through the Stone Age, amidst varying climatic conditions in the Arabian Peninsula. Research on the site's historical and environmental layers has shown continuous human habitation for 210,000 years.
Previously, Sharjah had added four significant archaeological sites to the tentative list for UNESCO's World Heritage designation after conducting extensive studies with academic experts and specialists. These sites include the pre-Islamic Mleiha site in southeastern Arabia, rock engravings at Khatam al-Melahah and Khorfakkan, the Wadi Al Helo area known for Bronze Age copper mining, and the cultural landscape of prehistoric times in Al Fayha.
The meeting, attended by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who serves as the ambassador for the international nomination of the Al Fayha Heritage Site, focused on the significant archaeological, historical, and diverse topographical characteristics of the Mleiha region.
The discussions also covered Sharjah’s efforts to preserve archaeological sites, ongoing excavation work, and the importance of non-intrusion and development within heritage areas, ensuring adherence to the regulations set by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Ruler of Sharjah highlighted that the Al Fayha region is among the most significant Stone Age sites in the Arabian Peninsula and globally, holding important evidence regarding early human migration. With numerous archaeological discoveries, it is a strong candidate for inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
He emphasized that the goal of designating Al Fayha as a World Heritage Site is to safeguard cultural heritage for future generations, share it with a global audience, and promote it.
The Al Fayha mountain site exemplifies the desert environment during the Stone Age, illustrating early human settlement from the Middle Stone Age through the Stone Age, amidst varying climatic conditions in the Arabian Peninsula. Research on the site's historical and environmental layers has shown continuous human habitation for 210,000 years.
Previously, Sharjah had added four significant archaeological sites to the tentative list for UNESCO's World Heritage designation after conducting extensive studies with academic experts and specialists. These sites include the pre-Islamic Mleiha site in southeastern Arabia, rock engravings at Khatam al-Melahah and Khorfakkan, the Wadi Al Helo area known for Bronze Age copper mining, and the cultural landscape of prehistoric times in Al Fayha.