Abu Dhabi Pearl: The World’s Oldest Known Natural Pearl Discovered on Marawah Island
October 20 2019 - 1:59PM
Business Wire
The 8,000-year-old Pearl to be displayed for
the first time at Louvre Abu Dhabi
The oldest known natural pearl in the world has been discovered
by Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)
archaeologists working at a Neolithic site on Marawah Island, just
off the coast of Abu Dhabi. Dubbed the ‘Abu Dhabi Pearl’, it was
found in layers carbon dated to 5800-5600 BCE, during the Neolithic
period. The discovery is proof that pearls and oysters were used in
the UAE nearly 8,000 years ago, and represents the earliest known
evidence for pearling yet discovered in the world.
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The Pearl (Photo: AETOSWire)
Pearls were precious elements during the Neolithic period,
certainly falling into the category of luxury and used for
adornment. As such, the priceless and historically significant Abu
Dhabi Pearl will feature in the upcoming Louvre Abu Dhabi
exhibition 10,000 Years of Luxury, where it will be on display to
the public for the very first time since its discovery.
Carbon dating has proven the Abu Dhabi Pearl to be older than
both of the two most significant prior pearl discoveries - one
uncovered at a Neolithic site in Umm al-Quwain and the other at a
Neolithic cemetery in Sharjah.
The Marawah site was first discovered in 1992, and consists of
numerous collapsed Neolithic stone structures. Other significant
finds from the site have included an imported ceramic vase, flint
arrowheads and shell and stone beads. Numerous painted plaster
vessel fragments discovered represent the earliest known decorative
art found in the UAE. At the beginning of 2020 a major new
excavation will take place at the site.
Experts have suggested pearls were possibly traded with
Mesopotamia in exchange for highly-decorated ceramics and other
goods. Pearls were precious elements during the Neolithic period
and likely worn as jewellery by the local population.
The art of pearling required an in-depth knowledge of pearl beds
and their locations and expert seafaring skills. Once these were
mastered by the ancient inhabitants of Marawah, pearling was to
remain a mainstay of the UAE’s economy for millennia.
The Pearl will be featured in 10,000 Years of Luxury exhibition,
taking place at Louvre Abu Dhabi from 30 October 2019 to 18
February 2020.
*Source: AETOSWire
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Shaimaa El Nazer DCT-AbuDhabi@fourcommunications.com