ID :
38879
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 12:00
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/38879
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New fossil discoveries in Abu Dhabi's Western Region
Abu Dhabi, Jan 5, 2009 (WAM) - A team of archaeologists led by Professor Andrew Hill and Faysal Bibi from Yale University has discovered a well preserved elephant jaw in the Western Region of the Abu Dhabi Emirate. The team has also excavated a pair of jaws from a primitive horse (known as a 'hipparion') and a crocodile skeleton from Hamra.
These sites date back to around 6-8 million years ago, a time known as the late Miocene epoch.
The team from the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University in the U.S.A. arrived in Abu Dhabi in mid December 2008 to continue their collaboration with the Historic Environment Department from the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).
The joint ADACH-Yale project concerns the investigation of the Baynunah Formation, a set of geological deposits rich in fossils which is exposed in Abu Dhabi's Western Region. The team, led by Professor Andrew Hill and Faysal Bibi from Yale University, is working in Abu Dhabi for one month surveying and mapping fossil sites dating back to 6-8 million years.
During the late Miocene epoch Abu Dhabi was greener than today, with rivers flowing through it teeming with hippos, crocodiles, turtles and fish. Forested areas and savanna-like grasslands were occupied by animals such as elephants, rhinos, giraffes, horses, antelopes and ostriches.
The team includes members of ADACH's Historic Environment Department. Training is being provided by specialists from the Yale Peabody Museum in the conservation, preparation and study of fossil specimens.
The joint ADACH-Yale team has so far carried out surveys and excavations at Jaw Al-Dibsa, Hamra and Shuwaihat. The highlights of this field season so far have been the discovery and excavation of a well preserved elephant jaw from Jaw al Dibsa, as well as a pair of jaws from a primitive horse (known as a 'hipparion') and a crocodile skeleton from Hamra.
ADACH's Historic Environment team is currently working on an extensive project mapping the location of all the fossil sites within Abu Dhabi. Most of the fossil sites are located along the coast of the Western Region, an area under threat from rapid development.
It is important that the Abu Dhabi late Miocene deposits receive protection since these represent the most complete, best preserved examples of such deposits within the entire Arabian peninsula.
To mark the end of the present field season there will be a special event held in Abu Dhabi on Thursday 8th January 2009 at 7p.m. A reception and public lecture entitled 'New Discoveries from the Yale University and ADACH late Miocene Fossil Project' will be presented by Professor Andrew Hill and Faysal Bibi at the Ibn Majid Hall in the ADACH headquarters at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi.
These sites date back to around 6-8 million years ago, a time known as the late Miocene epoch.
The team from the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University in the U.S.A. arrived in Abu Dhabi in mid December 2008 to continue their collaboration with the Historic Environment Department from the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).
The joint ADACH-Yale project concerns the investigation of the Baynunah Formation, a set of geological deposits rich in fossils which is exposed in Abu Dhabi's Western Region. The team, led by Professor Andrew Hill and Faysal Bibi from Yale University, is working in Abu Dhabi for one month surveying and mapping fossil sites dating back to 6-8 million years.
During the late Miocene epoch Abu Dhabi was greener than today, with rivers flowing through it teeming with hippos, crocodiles, turtles and fish. Forested areas and savanna-like grasslands were occupied by animals such as elephants, rhinos, giraffes, horses, antelopes and ostriches.
The team includes members of ADACH's Historic Environment Department. Training is being provided by specialists from the Yale Peabody Museum in the conservation, preparation and study of fossil specimens.
The joint ADACH-Yale team has so far carried out surveys and excavations at Jaw Al-Dibsa, Hamra and Shuwaihat. The highlights of this field season so far have been the discovery and excavation of a well preserved elephant jaw from Jaw al Dibsa, as well as a pair of jaws from a primitive horse (known as a 'hipparion') and a crocodile skeleton from Hamra.
ADACH's Historic Environment team is currently working on an extensive project mapping the location of all the fossil sites within Abu Dhabi. Most of the fossil sites are located along the coast of the Western Region, an area under threat from rapid development.
It is important that the Abu Dhabi late Miocene deposits receive protection since these represent the most complete, best preserved examples of such deposits within the entire Arabian peninsula.
To mark the end of the present field season there will be a special event held in Abu Dhabi on Thursday 8th January 2009 at 7p.m. A reception and public lecture entitled 'New Discoveries from the Yale University and ADACH late Miocene Fossil Project' will be presented by Professor Andrew Hill and Faysal Bibi at the Ibn Majid Hall in the ADACH headquarters at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi.
