Archaeological field investigations and excavations carried out by the writer at the end of 1973 and the first half of 1974 in Ras Al Khaimah Emirate in the United Arab Emirates proved that this has been a place with human habitation since the pre-historic times down to the later Islamic periods. The latter periods are clearly represented at a vast settlement called Julafar stretch from north to south directions right on the Arabian Gulf shore.
The name Julafar is known in early Islamic eras as a coastal trade town. However, during the twelfth century AD the famous Arab Geographer Al Idrisi in one of his geographical accounts mentioned Julafar as coastal trade town in the Arabian Gulf and has long river flowing from the mountains down to the seashore. Moreover, in the year 1516, the Portugal traveller Barbasa mentioned Julafar as a very large place for pearl trade and as a place of honourable, great merchants, and navigators.
The ruins of Julafar, which extends five kilometres long and more than two hundred meters wide in 1973, remained almost untouched by any archeological activities. However, sadly to say, numerous modern buildings have appeared in different parts of the whole settlement.
Surface archaeological remains — mainly pottery ware — indicated that they all belong to the late nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century.
Theis information appeared to coincide with late historical records mentioning Julafar as an outlet (gate way) city in the Arabian Gulf leading to the port of Basra in the extreme north, up to India and Sri Lanka, which the Arabs used to call Sarandeeb, or the land of rubies, down to the eastern coast of Africa in the south.
After gathering field and historical data and long investigations at the entire site, excavations began at an area located on the seashore locally known as Al Darbahanyah. After removing, a thin layer of debris containing ashes mixed with earth, tiny pieces of soft stones, different pottery sherds of vessels and pots, pieces of metal and a good number of Chinese porcelain began to appear. The later was decorated with floral and animal motives in Chinese custom. They were all in deep blue colour on milky white background. However, pottery ware sherds in general were coarse, thick, grits tempered, and poorly fired.
As the excavations slowly proceeded, architectural features consisting of deteriorated walls and pieces of soft stones and carbonised material began to appear as well.
After cleaning the area and findings, scattered foundations of small rooms built of soft stone and mud began to appear in different directions of the excavated area. Inside them pottery ware consisting of bowls, ewers, sherds of dishes and cooking pots, bronze eye liners, beads made of different semi-precious stones, rings made of bronze and iron, and bracelets made of coloured glass were unearthed.
In addition to this, bones of goats, sheep, cattle and fish bones were found in different parts and levels of the excavated areas.
The sherds of Chinese porcelainfound in the area were decorated with animals, birds, long trees, flowers and Chinese architectural motives. They all were done in naturalistic manners in deep and faded blue, red and brown colours on creamy white background.
Unfortunately, all the bronze coins found were badly corroded and severely deteriorated. Hence they did not yield any positive clues for accurate dating. Therefore, the study of Chinese Porcelain which turned to belong to Ming Dynasty provided good and solid bases for dating the levels and the finds excavated.
The Peninsula
