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SHARJAH/WAM
H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, received a team of international archaeology experts at the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre.
During the meeting, attended by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Ambassador for the international nomination file for the Al Fayha Heritage Site, discussions revolved around the significant archaeological, historical, and diverse topographical features of the Mleiha region.
Additionally, the efforts of the emirate of Sharjah in preserving archaeological sites, ongoing excavation operations, and the non-interference and development within heritage areas to ensure compliance with the regulations and laws of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) were addressed.
Sharjah Ruler emphasised that Al Fayha region is one of the most significant sites of the Stone Age in the Arabian Peninsula and the world, bearing substantial evidence regarding the history of early human migration. Abounding in numerous archaeological discoveries, it is poised for inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
He pointed out that the objective of listing Al Fayha region as a World Heritage Site is to preserve the cultural heritage for future generations, share it with the world, and promote it.
Al Fayha mountain site is considered an exceptional example of the desert environment during the Stone Age, documenting early human settlement in the area from the beginnings of the Middle Stone Age to the Stone Age, amid changing climatic conditions in the Arabian Peninsula. Studies of the historical and environmental layers at the site have documented the continuity of human settlement for 210,000 years.
Earlier, the emirate of Sharjah had included four important archaeological sites on the tentative list for UNESCO’s World Heritage, following a series of studies conducted with academic experts and specialists. These sites included the pre-Islamic period site of Mleiha in southeastern Arabia, the rock engravings in Khatam al-Melahah and Khorfakkan, Wadi Al Helo witnessing copper mining in the Bronze Age in the Arabian Peninsula, and the cultural scene of prehistoric eras in Al Fayha.