Late Islamic Mountain Villages at Suhaila, Hatta (Dubai): Survey and Excavation at Sites No. 1, 3, and 4

Recent survey and excavations at Suhaila 1,3 and 4, carried out by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Chronicle Heritage Arabia, have revealed that each of the sites show evidence of a Late Islamic Period occupation. Each of these settlements shared architectural grammar that included organization of space, construction techniques, and concepts of organization placed that took advantage of the local landscape in their development, including the implementation of falaj systems to support local agricultural potential. These sites are comparable to other recently investigated Late Islamic sites such as Qumayrah and Sahlat, which show connections to maritime trade networks. The results from the three Suhaila sites offer another case study that connects these remote agricultural sites in mountainous and rural zones to the broader coastal economy of the Gulf.

Keywords: Late Islamic Period, Settlements, Agriculture Terraces. Falaj, Julfar Ware, Omani Coins.