From ancient stone tools to Sharjah’s modern-day heritage hustle, Al Faya site is now one step closer to international fame. HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, has just approved the official boundaries of the Al Faya site. This decision gears up the site for a shiny nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List. And honestly, it’s about time the world knew about such historic sites of Sharjah!
Sharjah’s Ancient Treasure, Al Faya Site, Gets The Green Light For UNESCO Nomination
While exploring Jebel Faya in Sharjah, archaeologists stumbled upon ancient stone tools that are nearly 80,000 years old. Pretty wild, isn’t it? But here’s the real kicker — these discoveries prove that early humans didn’t just breeze through the Arabian Peninsula for a quick stopover. They actually stayed, settled, and called this place home. Nope, they stayed, adapted, and flourished right here. The Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA) says early Homo sapiens lived here for over 210,000 years — yep, that long! The tools they left behind? Not just pretty pebbles lying around. They were proper survival tools for hunting, cutting up meat, processing plants, and even making more tools.
Sharjah’s Global Squad Of History Hunters
What’s even cooler is that this discovery was a team effort by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority and the brilliant minds from universities in Germany and the UK. The German Research Foundation and the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences backed the mission with solid funding
The research linked these findings to Marine Isotope Stage 5a (MIS 5a), a time when Arabia wasn’t all dunes and blazing sun. Thanks to wild monsoons from the Indian Ocean, this place once looked like a dreamy green garden with lakes, grasslands, and all the good stuff. No wonder early humans wanted to stick around!
And guess what? The site’s archaeological record is nearly continuous from 210,000 to 80,000 years ago, which is seriously rare for this region. Researchers confirmed this timeline using luminescence dating.
Also Read: 90% Of UAE Residents Face Traffic Jams In Dubai & Sharjah According To New Study
Sharjah’s Past, Present, And UNESCO Future
Sharjah just scored a cultural win with this nomination. The official approval of Al Faya’s boundaries is a bold step towards putting the Emirate on the world’s archaeological map. The site’s ancient secrets, now protected, tell a story that deserves the global spotlight.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikipedia/Alexandermcnabb