Sharjah's Shaikh Sultan unveils 3rd century BC archaeological site

Sharjah - A treasure trove of antiquities in Sharjah.

His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, revealed an archaeological site which has a major historical significance to the region at the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project.
Dr Shaikh Sultan unveiled the inscriptions engraved on a tomb that dates back to the third century BC, in the presence of Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.
The historical treasure was discovered by a Belgium expedition from the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels, in collaboration with the team of the Directorate of Antiquities at the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information.
The recovered treasure features inscriptions engraved on a huge grave consisting of an underground burial chamber measuring 5.2 square metres. The inscription, written in Aramaic and the southern Arabic language, carries the name of Amad bin Jar bin Ali Kahin, the King of the ancient Kingdom of Oman, and his descendants.
The inscriptions also include the date when the tomb was built. It says the tomb dates back to 90 or 96 AG, a system of numbering years in use by the Seleucid Empire, equivalent to the year 221/222, or 216/215 BC, making it the oldest historical discovery that refers to Oman and also proves that the ancient Kingdom of Oman existed in the late third century BC.
The announcement was made by the Ruler of Sharjah when he inaugurated the first phase of the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project.
Dr Shaikh Sultan also visited a number of prominent archaeological sites such as the Umm An-Nar Tomb, the Valley of the Caves, the Mleiha Fort, and the pre-Islamic Mleiha Palace, historic horse and camel graveyard, and the ancient farmhouse with kitchen. These significant sites dates back to early man and give an insight in to how our ancestors lived.
Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project has been nominated by Unesco as a World Heritage site, reflecting the rich archaeological and cultural heritage and attracting more visitors and investors.
Such a listing will help the project continue to protect indigenous wildlife and assist in maintaining the distinctive archaeological sites, some of which date back to the third millennium BC. — Wam

• Sharjah