The Agricultural Terraces and Hydraulic Management Systems of Suhaila 3 Archaeological Site in Hatta, Dubai (UAE), During Late Islamic Period

The Hatta archaeological landscape is an exceptional example of human adaptability in mountainous regions, exemplified through the introduction of a falaj hydraulic management system during the Late Islamic period. The presence of terraces in mountainous areas suggests the need for landscape management and water control in response to fluctuating environmental conditions. Suhaila archaeological site comprises 16 Lat Islamic settlements. These settlements were built in the valleys on the slope of Al-hajar mountain. More than 449 structures were documented in these sites, including complex houses, single bedroom, mosques, watching towers, and boundary walls. But the most important structures were surveyed are agriculture terraces which are in two of the settlements, one at Suhaila 2 archaeological site and the second group of these terraces is at Suhaila 3 site. At Suhaila 3 archaeological site, agricultural terraces and water management features with intact stratigraphy exposed by wadi downcutting were documented as part of a geoarchaeological survey by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (DCAA) and Chronicle Heritage Arabia (CH Arabia). The sedimentary sequences from seven sections identified in that survey reveal dynamic interactions among colluvial, fluvial, and soil formation processes shaped by episodic high-energy fluvial events, periods of landscape stabilization, and human activity. The strategic placement of agricultural terraces and water management systems within and adjacent to the wadi utilized locally available seasonal water, the local topography, and fertile soils. These factors likely enhanced the agricultural potential of the area, enabling more permanent occupation within the mountainous village environment, and offers a unique opportunity to understand past, sustainable agricultural practices.

Keywords: Agriculture Terraces, Late Islamic Period, the Stratigraphy, Hydrology, Al-Hajar Mountain.