An old Islamic coastal settlement with a fort, a mosque, domestic dwellings and auxiliary buildings has been recently discovered at Ras Al Shairig in the northern part of Qatar.
The excavation work was carried out by archaeologist Dr Andrew Petersen (pictured) in collaboration with the Qatar Museums Authority and the Qatar Islamic Archaeology and Heritage project as part of his research on the archaeology of coastal settlements in the north of Qatar.
"We were fortunate to look intensively at the old settlement, which shows vibrant human activity," said Dr Petersen, who delivered an illustrated presentation on his interesting findings before members of the Qatar Natural History Group (QNHG) yesterday.
Dr Petersen's presentation was the penultimate one of the series of talks for the season which QNHG has been conducting as part of its regular activities.
In addition to the structures on the site, which measures more than 300 metres north to south, there were a large number of burnt mounds or middens, pottery, bones and shells among other things.
The pottery, which altogether weighs approximately 80kg, is believed to have come from China, Burma (now called Myanmar) and Iran.
Preliminary examination of the pottery suggests that the settlement ceased to be occupied in the mid to late 18th century.
Other fascinating finds there included Indian rupee coins deliberately placed within the walls of the mosque and Arabic inscriptions on plaster.
Dr Petersen observed the structures were complex and were continuously redeveloped and rebuilt over time. The settlement's proximity to the sea reveals it was a fishing village which could have engaged in trading in the past.
The variety of the objects found in the area also gives an idea as to what all people used to do in earlier times.
As director of research in Islamic Archaeology at the University of Wales Lampeter, Dr Petersen has carried out fieldwork in many parts of the Islamic world including Iraq, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
His current research interests include Islamic urbanism, pilgrimage routes and fortifications. He also made a presentation here last March about the excavations at the Islamic fort of Ruwaydha.
Source: The Peninsula