Today's Edition
RAJEEV CHERIAN (MLEIHA, SHARJAH)
Overlooking the timeworn slopes of Fossil Rock Mountain and nestled within the stunning desert landscape, Mleiha Archaeological Centre offers a journey through time and opens a window into past ways of life.
From unearthed stone tools of the Palaeolithic period to artefacts from the Early Islamic era, its rich collection traces the evolution of human settlement in this part of the region over thousands of years.
Located in the central region of Sharjah, Mleiha and its surrounding areas rose to prominence for their major role in history and archaeology.
Archaeological findings provide evidence that “anatomically modern humans were in the Mleiha area some 200,000 years ago during their spread from an African centre of evolution over the rest of the world”, according to the centre.
Offering an immersive learning experience, enhanced by multimedia-guided tours, the indoor museum at the centre takes visitors through each historical period up to the Early Islamic era, exploring burial practices, agriculture, livestock, jewellery, trade and the use of coins, among others.
The centre also offers guided tours of the archaeological sites within the Mleiha National Park, part of the Palaeolandscape of Faya, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2025.
The Palaeolithic Period
The museum experience starts with an introduction to the Palaeolithic period of human history, which began about 2.5 million years ago when early humans started using stone tools.
“By definition, it terminates at the end of the Ice Age, some 12,000 years BP [before present]. Archaeological finds of the earliest phases are only known from Africa, where the human species originated. A million years later, early humans had reached South Asia, probably passing through Arabia,” reads an inscription at the museum.
Among the stone artefacts unearthed from the area is a hand-axe found at Suhaila, estimated to have been made some 500,000 years ago.
The Faya Cave
Another standout archaeological discovery from the Palaeolithic Period, or the Early Stone Age, is the Faya Cave.
“Layers from this time around 130,000 years ago have yielded the earliest known evidence for the appearance of ‘Anatomically Modern Humans’ outside the African continent.
“This site has a natural attraction for visitors, not only today but also during many thousands of years in the past when early humans used it as a ‘rock shelter’ during the Ice Ages,” reads an inscription at the site.
Ice Age refers to any geologic period during which thick ice sheets cover vast areas of land. The most recent major ice age, known as the Great Ice Age or Pleistocene Epoch, spanned approximately 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, according to Britannica.
The Neolithic Period
When it comes to the Neolithic Period, also known as the New Stone Age, the Mleiha area holds particular importance, especially in Southeast Arabia.
“When Neolithic people came to this region around 8,000 BCE, the cold and dry period of the last phase of the Ice Age was just over. During that time, nobody lived in the Inland Basin. The Neolithic people already had cattle, sheep and goats as livestock animals, but did not cultivate plants. … Careful excavations of funeral sites have provided insight into burial practices,” according to the museum.
People from this period led a nomadic lifestyle and did not leave much architecture behind; however, hearths are the most important indicators of Neolithic life in the Inland Basin.
Offering vital clues through carbon dating, fireplaces discovered in the Mleiha area are believed to have been left behind by its Neolithic inhabitants between 10,000 and 6,000 years ago.
The Bronze Age
When metal began to replace stone as material for tools starting around 3,200 BCE, a new era had emerged: the Bronze Age.
Based on key archaeological sites, this period is divided into sub-phases, including the Hafit phase after graves found at Jebel Hafit near Al Ain, the Umm an-Nar and Wadi-Sug phases, and a final phase known as the Late Bronze Age, offering insights into the transition from the Bronze to the Iron Age.
Hafit-phase graves are mostly small cairns, circular monuments made of undressed stones with a small grave chamber inside. They are typically positioned along mountain crests. At Emeilah, large Hafit graves were found at the foot of the Jebel, which are collective graves presumably for families.
During the Umm an-Nar phase, tombs reflect perfect masonry and feature multiple chambers.
The large Umm an-Nar Tomb close to the Mleiha Archaeological Centre is among the major funeral sites in the area, constructed around 2300 BCE. Used for approximately 200 years, it’s among the largest sites from the Umm an-Nar period across Southeast Arabia.
The Wadi-Suq phase, from around 2,000 BCE onward, sees the uniformity of funerary monuments start to change.
“Strict burial rules do not exist anymore, and tomb shapes become quite variable. The idea of collective graves continues, but their architecture is different in comparison to that of previous ones,” according to information displayed at the museum.
Another highlight of the era was the oasis culture. The Mleiha plain was very suitable for oasis culture, which not only allowed for the harvest of agricultural plants and fruits all year round but also for the storage of them. Since these times, dates have become the most important staple food.
The Iron Age
This period, lasting from 1,200 to 400 BCE, in the Mleiha region is well represented in many graves and by the settlement of Thuqeibah.
This settlement, a well-preserved agricultural hamlet near Al Madam, points to water management and the use falaj, an ancient irrigation method which used a network of underground and surface channels to move water where it’s needed.
Faunal remains shed light on the importance of sheep and goat husbandry. Thuqeibah ceased to exist when the water table became too low to be tapped with the means available during that period.
Among the highlights were the remains of a large communal well found in the settlement area.
The Late Pre-Islamic Period
Heralding a new cultural phase in Arabia, this period is primarily defined through excavations at two major sites: Mleiha and Ed-Dur in Umm Al Quwain.
The nomadic newcomer to the region favoured Mleiha due to its outstanding hydrological situation.
Key highlights of the era include a marble hoard found in Mleiha, dating back to around first century BCE to first century CE. The vessels were most likely imported from South Arabia (Yemen).
“The presence of South Arabian vessels in Mleiha is another interesting indicator of foreign influence. Alabaster was used in antiquity as a material for containing unguents and perfumes,” according to the museum.
The appearance of currency is another notable aspect of this era with more than 300 coins discovered in Mleiha.
Mleiha Fort
Revealing insights into the social order of the era was the Mleiha Fort, discovered underneath the old road from Mleiha to Al Madam in 1990. The fortified building belongs to the latest phase of Mleiha. “The political power might have been located in this building which had an upper storey,” according to the centre.
Adding to the captivating discoveries is the gravestone of Amud, son of Gurr son of ‘Ali, inspector of the King of Oman. A replica of the tombstone showcases funerary inscription consisting of five lines written in South Arabian script on the central panel and additional text in the same language on the surrounding edges.
“The use of script also was a far-reaching new introduction. Its system originated from the South Arabian and Aramaic script. The language is Hasaitic, a northeast Arabian dialect. The script is found on tomb-slabs, bronze funerary plaques, on copper-vessels and pottery,” read the information provided at the museum.
Desert Trails and Adventures
Located in Sharjah’s Mleiha town, the Mleiha Archaeological Centre is open daily from 9am to 7pm Saturday to Wednesday, and from 9am to 9pm on Thursday and Friday.
Apart from archaeological tours, the site offers a wide range of experiences. Adventurers can get a chance to catch a glimpse of free-roaming gazelles or wild foxes, or hop on dune buggy tours.
One can also go for sky adventures; watch the stars; ride horses; or try glamping and sand surfing. The destination provides a fun, immersive educational experience, deeply rooted in Mleiha’s heritage and history.
