Digging up tales from million years old Mleiha in Sharjah

Sharjah - It is closer than you think. All you need to do is hop into your car and drive to Sharjah.

Want to experience some breathtaking history, while bringing out your inner adrenaline junkie and enjoying some late night stargazing?
It is closer than you think. All you need to do is hop into your car and drive to Sharjah. The Mleiha Archaeological Centre, 55km to the east of Sharjah, tell a story that is more than a million years old, dating back to the pre-Islamic times.
The digs proved that the area was a trade network, given its strategic location between the sea of Oman and the Arabian Gulf. It was in contact with other civilisations in the Mediterranean, South Asia and Mesopotamia, other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, as well as Eastern Arabia.
These finds point to immigration from Africa across the Red Sea to the Gulf Peninsula and onward to populate the world through Iran, India, Europe and Asia.
Officially opened last January, the archaeological site has become an attractive spot. The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has invested Dh250 million in the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project.
Tourists and heritage lovers visit the spot to see findings from the late Iron Age, the Hellenistic and post-Hellenistic periods. One will find the ancient ruins and burial sites that date back to the BC epoch, and traces of 'anatomically modern humans' from around 130,000 years ago. You will see more than 300 skeletons and fossils of humans, horses and camels, and remains of items used in daily life, including pottery and iron tools.
Visitors can enjoy a tour around the site's main tracks, of sights like the Umm an-Nar Tomb, Fossil Rock, Valley of the Caves, the Mleiha Fort, historic horse and camel graveyard, the ancient farmhouse with kitchen, and the pre-Islamic era Mleiha Palace.
Natural scenery around the digs
The site offers more than just a journey-into-the-past experience.
What captivates visitors more is the area's natural terrain and diversity of rare wildlife. The Centre hosts various exploratory sporting activities, such as the Adrenaline Adventures with dune buggies and quad biking activities, and an opportunity to undertake environment friendly off-road activities in 4X4 cars.
The centre also provides guided walks on camel trails to see the paths ancient civilisations took to cross the desert, as well as horse riding tours, walking and cycling trips. The second phase of the project will involve the construction of the Mleiha National Desert Park over an area of 450 square kilometres. It will also have a Night Camping Park and motel for overnight stays.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com