UAE's Oldest Buildings from 8,500 Years Discovered

Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism said archaeologists in the UAE have uncovered the buildings dating back at least 8,500 years, located on the island of Ghagha, west of the city of Abu Dhabi.

These discoveries are the country's oldest known, more than 500 years older than the previous record-breaking discoveries.

The structures which have been unearthed are "simple round rooms," which have stone walls that are still preserved up to a height of almost a meter (3.3 feet), and showed the existence of Neolithic settlements

The structures were "likely houses for a small community who may have lived on the island year-round." Said the team in the statement.

Hundreds of artifacts were also uncovered, among them "finely worked stone arrowheads that would have been used for hunting," and the team said it was "likely that the community would also have used the rich resources of the sea."

Our archaeologists have discovered evidence of the earliest known buildings in the UAE and wider region, on the island of Ghagha, west of Abu Dhabi city. Dating back more than 8,500 years, the stone-built structure reveal a compelling and even more ancient history of the nation. pic.twitter.com/VIuKJNYUtK

— Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (@dctabudhabi) February 17, 2022

Although the archaeologists are still unsure when the settlement was in use until, a body was discovered buried in the structures and dating back around 5,000 years -- and it is one of the few known burials from this time on the Abu Dhabi islands.

"The discoveries on Ghagha island highlight that the characteristics of innovation, sustainability and resilience have been part of the DNA of the inhabitants of this region for thousands of years," said Mohamed Al Mubarak, chairman of the department.