From the depth of history…the ruins of Umm Al Quwain tell the story of a renewed civilization

Umm Al Quwain, July 27 / WAM / The Department of Tourism and Antiquities in Umm Al Quwain has, over the past years, completed restoration work on about 300 archaeological pieces and approximately 15 archaeological and historical buildings, while the preservation of new discoveries continues, relying on specialized national cadres, along with experts and researchers from universities and international archaeological missions.

The results of the restoration work contributed to the preservation of archaeological sites and the discovery of new architectural and historical elements. It also allowed researchers to study the sites more accurately, and enhanced the documentation of the finds and understanding of their cultural dimensions, thus supporting the preservation of national identity and strengthening awareness of the importance of cultural heritage.

The restoration of sites and artifacts in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain is an essential pillar in efforts to preserve the cultural heritage, as it contributes to protecting historical evidence from the factors of time and the environment, and allows researchers and specialists to read more accurately the history of the emirate and its cultural sequence throughout the ages, in addition to its role in enhancing the emirate’s position on the map of cultural tourism in the UAE.

The Emirate of Umm Al Quwain includes a number of the most prominent archaeological and historical sites, including Al-Dur Archaeological Site, Deir Al-Siniyah, the pearl fishing city on Al-Siniyah Island, Umm Al-Quwain Fort, Falaj Al-Mualla Fort, the House of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al-Mualla, and the House of Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al-Mualla, which have witnessed, in recent years, continuous restoration and maintenance projects in accordance with the latest scientific standards approved in the field of cultural heritage preservation.

Rania Hussein Qanuma, Acting Director of the Department of Antiquities and Heritage at the Department of Tourism and Antiquities in Umm Al Quwain, said that the archaeological discoveries in the emirate document successive historical stages, as the discoveries of the Al-Dur site, with its temple, graves, fort, palace, and residential houses, date back to the period extending from the first century BC until the third century AD.

The pearl fishing city on the island of Al-Siniya dates back to the period between the middle of the fourth century and the middle of the sixth century AD, while the Monastery of Al-Siniya and the Bishop’s House date back to the period extending from the end of the sixth century until the middle of the eighth century AD, while the forts and historical buildings date to the period of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

She added that these discoveries confirm the position that Umm Al Quwain enjoyed as an important commercial and cultural center on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, benefiting from its strategic location, which contributed to the prosperity of trade and communication with different civilizations during many historical eras.

She explained that the journey of preserving antiquities begins from the moment they are discovered, as antiquities undergo two documentation processes, the first during excavation work, and the second when they are registered in the museum registry, before they go through the stages of restoration in accordance with international standards, and then they are preserved in antiquities stores or prepared for museum display.

She pointed out that restoration work relies on specialized materials and techniques appropriate to the nature of each piece, including reversible adhesives, fine cleaning materials, and reinforcement materials that do not interact with the components of the original piece, in addition to the use of digital photography and laboratory analyses, while adhering to the principle of minimal intervention in order to preserve the authenticity of the piece and its historical value.

In support of these efforts, the Department of Tourism and Antiquities in Umm Al Quwain cooperates with local and international laboratories, including the University of Sharjah laboratory, the Sorbonne University laboratory in Abu Dhabi, and laboratories specialized in radiocarbon analysis, in addition to partnerships with New York University in Abu Dhabi and the English, French, and Italian archaeological missions, which contribute to the application of the best scientific practices in research and restoration work.

Qanoma explained that environmental factors, particularly humidity and salts, represent the most prominent challenges facing restoration teams, which requires the implementation of periodic maintenance programs and preventive preservation measures to ensure reducing the impact of these factors and preserving sites and artifacts.

The Al-Dur Temple restoration project is one of the most prominent heritage preservation projects in the emirate, as it dates back to the first century AD, and was discovered by the Belgian mission in 1987.

The temple is distinguished by an architectural style inspired by Roman temples, as it was built with marine stone and its walls were covered with layers of local plaster.

During the restoration work, samples of plaster and mortar were taken and analyzed in the University of Sharjah laboratory, and the results proved that the building materials used were local, which allowed the reuse of authentic materials in accordance with the highest standards adopted in preserving and preserving cultural heritage.

Qanoma confirmed that the department continues to implement its future projects, which include completing the restoration of Umm Al Quwain Fort, the buildings of the archaeological site of Al-Dur, Deir Al-Siniyah, and the pearl fishing city on Al-Siniyah Island, in addition to developing the infrastructure of other archaeological sites, employing modern technologies in documentation and display, and strengthening academic and cultural partnerships, in a way that contributes to introducing the emirate’s history and cultural heritage.

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