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Unearthing a New Islamic Coastal Settlement
20.05.2010
Recent excavations by Qatar Museums Authority and Lampeter archaeologist Dr Andrew Petersen have discovered an old Islamic coastal settlement complete with a fort, mosque, domestic dwellings and auxiliary buildings.
The discovery by Dr Petersen, lecturer in Islamic archaeology at the University of Wales Lampeter, was made at Ras al-Shairig in the northern part of Qatar earlier this year.
Photo: Lee Jones, Daniel Jones and Tim Lewis remove raw clay cooking pot for environmental sampling and conservation
In addition to the building structures, which in total measure more than 400 metres north to south, there were a large number of burnt mounds or middens, pottery, bones and shells demonstrating a long period of human occupation.
The pottery found, which altogether weighs approximately 80kg, appears to originate from as far afield as China, Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Iran. Other fascinating finds from the site include Indian rupee coins deliberately placed within the walls of the mosque, Arabic inscriptions on plaster, and a surprising diversity of different date presses.
These artefacts, together with its proximity to the sea, indicate that the site was a trading settlement. Surprisingly however there were none of the usual artefacts associated with fishing and pearling that are typically found in coastal regions.Preliminary examination of the pottery suggests that the settlement ceased to be occupied in the mid to late 19th century but the reason why the site was abandoned is unknown. However the presence of a cannonball embedded in the wall of a fort provide indicates that life was not always peaceful.
Photo: Hoard of nineteenth century silver Indian Rupees hidden within wall of mosque
These artefacts, together with its proximity to the sea, indicate that the site was a trading settlement. Surprisingly however there were none of the usual artefacts associated with fishing and pearling that are typically found in coastal regions.Preliminary examination of the pottery suggests that the settlement ceased to be occupied in the mid to late 19th century but the reason why the site was abandoned is unknown. However the presence of a cannonball embedded in the wall of a fort provide indicates that life was not always peaceful.
Photo: Date Press (madbassa) in the southern part of the site
Dr Petersen, whose research interests include Islamic urbanism, pilgrimage routes and fortifications, has carried out fieldwork in many parts of the Islamic world including Iraq, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. This excavation work was undertaken in collaboration with the Qatar Museums Authority and the Qatar Islamic Archaeology and Heritage Project.
Further Information
For further information and interviews with Dr Petersen, please contact 01570 424799 or email j.norris-hill@trinitysaintdavid.ac.ukView all news...
