Umm al-Quwain 2: A Neolithic settlement and graveyard in the United Arab Emirates

Sophie Mery · Kevin Lidour

Nov 2025 · Archaeopress Publishing Ltd

Ebook

246

Pages

Eligible

About this ebook

This volume examines the Neolithic period in Eastern Arabia, focusing on the coastal site of UAQ2 in Umm al-Quwain, United Arab Emirates. Based on years of excavations and surveys conducted by the French Archaeological Mission in the UAE, it explores how coastal communities lived and adapted between the 8th and 6th millennia before present. The book highlights the unique features of UAQ2, including its well-preserved stratigraphy, which provides insights into settlement patterns, subsistence strategies, and burial practices. These findings offer a detailed understanding of how these communities sustained themselves through fishing, hunting, and herding. The site contains one of the oldest known graveyards in the Arabian Gulf, revealing evidence of inter-group violence and symbolic practices linked to ancient pearling traditions. In addition to examining local practices, this monograph places UAQ2 within broader regional networks. It explores connections with Mesopotamia, demonstrated by Ubaid pottery, and links with the Sultanate of Oman, reflected in shared material culture and technologies. These interactions underline the UAE’s significant place in regional exchange during the Neolithic. The study also considers the impact of environmental changes on human mobility and settlement, including the effects of aridification and shifting coastal landscapes. By integrating archaeological and environmental analyses, this book enhances our understanding of the Neolithic period in Eastern Arabia and its place within the wider prehistoric world.

About the author

Sophie Méry is Research Director at the CNRS and led the French Archaeological Mission in the UAE from 1999 to 2023. Affiliated with the UMR ArScAn (VEPMO) at the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme-Mondes, Nanterre, she specialises in the study of Bronze Age pottery and artisanal specialisation, with extensive excavation experience across the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Pakistan, and France. Her research focuses on artefact characterisation and ancient exchange networks.

Kevin Lidour, is Archaeologist at the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, where he has directed excavations on Neolithic and Bronze Age sites since 2023. Director of the French Archaeological Mission in the UAE since 2024, he brings over a decade of fieldwork experience in the region. His research centres on Arabian Neolithic maritime adaptations, integrating bioarchaeology, shell tool analysis, and experimental studies of personal ornaments.

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