Sharjah’s Faya Palaeolandscape, recently nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status, presents compelling evidence of human resilience and adaptation spanning over 210,000 years, while also serving as a crucial link in ancient trade networks connecting Arabia with India.
The 29,085-hectare site, located approximately 55 kilometers from both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, features the distinctive Faya Range, a 20-kilometer stretch of limestone formations. This natural ridge acts as a barrier between the vast Rub’ al-Khali sand desert and the Dhaid-Madam Plain, forming what UNESCO describes as “an outstanding example of a Stone Age desert landscape.”
“The Faya excavations are significant because we have early evidence for the Out of Africa movement along the southern route,” explains Dr. Knut Bretzke, Head of the German Archaeological Mission in Sharjah. “People reached here about 120,000 years ago, maybe earlier, and they adapted to the desert environment.”
What makes Faya truly exceptional is its evidence of human habitation even during hyper-arid climate phases. “We have both archaeology saying people were here, and environmental data indicating it was really dry at some points,” Dr. Bretzke notes. “This demonstrates early settlement of the desert, which is unparalleled elsewhere.”
The site’s geological formations featuring three distinct rock layers approximately 93 to 66 million years old—emerged through tectonic collision of the Arabian and Eurasian plates. These formations are rich in flint, a crucial raw material for tool-making. During periods of increased rainfall, the hills acted as barriers for water flowing from the Hajar Mountains, creating life-sustaining springs.
“People first came here in a period when it was more rainy, more wet,” Dr. Bretzke explains. “Sometimes we even talk about the ‘Green Arabia’ phase because it was so wet that probably the entire Arabian Peninsula was turned green, with flowing rivers.”
The climate fluctuated dramatically over time, with changes occurring approximately every 20,000 years. “The climate changed about 70,000 years ago when the last glacial period started in the northern hemisphere,” Dr. Bretzke continues. “When it was really arid, people weren’t here, but they came back after developing strategies including increased mobility.”
The archaeological record at Faya is uniquely continuous, with excavations revealing 18 phases of human occupation from the Early Middle Palaeolithic to the Neolithic period. Seven excavated sites have yielded stone tools, animal and human bones, jewelry, hearths, and burial practices that document humanity’s evolution from hunter-gatherers to pastoral nomads.
Beyond its significance for understanding early human adaptation, Faya also represents a crucial link in ancient trade networks. Eisa Yousif, Director of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, highlights the region’s extensive connections with India: “During the Bronze Age, Sharjah shared similarities in material culture with Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley, indicating strong trade links.”
Archaeological discoveries include Indian cooking pots, ivory artifacts, and coins bearing the image of Shiva. “The presence of coin molds similar to those found in India underscores the economic and political interactions between the two regions,” Yousif notes.
A comparative analysis by UNESCO found that while other sites worldwide share some characteristics with Faya, none combine its unique features: continuous archaeological record, desert landscape setting, exceptional geohydrological features, and evidence of human adaptation to extreme climatic conditions.
As UNESCO considers Faya’s nomination, the site continues to yield invaluable insights into human evolution and the ancient cultural connections that linked civilizations across continents, highlighting humanity’s remarkable ability to adapt and thrive in even the most challenging environments.
