ABU DHABI // It is difficult to imagine that the vast desert of the Western Region teemed with elephant, giraffe, greenery and rivers – even if it was 7 million years ago.
Archaeologists and scientists presented fossil records and research at the Baynunah Palaeontology Conference held at Manarat Al Saadiyat on Wednesday, proving the migration of animals from Africa created an ecology that was at one time similar to savannah.
“Like any landscapes, it’s made up of many landscapes,” said Dr Faysal Bibi, co-director of the Baynunah palaeontology project.
“Basically, when you have fresh water, that produces a very different landscape than when you don’t.”
More than 30 years of exploration of the fossil-bearing sediments, known as the Baynunah Formation, have allowed palaeontologists to uncover animal and plant fossils including sabre-toothed tigers, monkeys, hippopotamus and antelope.
After separating from the formation of Pangaea – essentially a super-continent – the Arabian Peninsula moved much closer to the Horn of Africa, where many animals crossed in search of improved living conditions.
Dr Bibi said migrations followed specific geological patterns from Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and carried on to Europe and the Indian subcontinent in some cases.
“As long as the conditions are right, animals will live anywhere that they can, especially big animals,” he said. “As long as they have the kind of water and food they need, then they’ll move there.”
Although animals spent enough time in the region to evolve into variations of species, scientists were able to suggest a migratory path from eastern Africa based on their similarities with the genus endemic to that region.
The Yale-educated Dr Bibi said the animals, whose fossilised remains were found in Baynunah, existed in the region for anytime between 100,000 and a million years.
“We are not only interested in how these animals came to be, but also why they went away, which becomes a very timely topic when you think of what humans are doing to the Earth,” he said.
Dr Bibi, who has been leading expeditions to Abu Dhabi since 2003, said that the extinction of animals was a natural occurrence but that human-induced habitat and species destruction ranked among the most severe.
“Human-induced extinction is on the order of some of the largest extinctions, like meteorites slamming into the Earth or volcanoes erupting causing apocalypse-like scenarios,” he said. “What humans are doing now is going to look equivalent to that.”
Mark J Beech, head of the coastal heritage and palaeontology section for Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, said scientists’ findings should be of more interest to the general public.
“This is something that we must consider natural heritage,” Dr Beech said.
“We want to educate people. There is a lot of information available on the internet but many aren’t aware of it.”
He mentioned that websites set up by various government organisations help amateur archaeologists and developers know where dig sites exist in Abu Dhabi.
One of the websites is the Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi, which describes the geological history of the region and the Abu Dhabi Geospatial Map.
In his talk, Dr Beech presented the progression of archaeological documentation and geospatial indicators comparing today’s technology of three-dimensional imaging and global positioning satellite coordination to the first maps from the 1800s drawn by British naval officers.
“Everyone has been asking me, where can we see these fossils, why is there not a natural-history museum, and we really want to do something about this,” he said.
The next step would be establishing a museum to help present and raise awareness about the importance of the UAE for archaeologists and palaeontologists.
nalwasmi@thenational.ae
RESULT
Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
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