UMM AL QAIWAIN, 27th July, 2022 (WAM) -- The Department of Tourism and Archaeology of Umm Al Qaiwain has received a small collection of archaeological artefacts made by a British engineer, Peter Hudson, and his family several decades ago, according to a Department announcement.

The diverse collection includes metal arrowheads, pottery vessels, small statuettes, beads and other items, of different dates, from the Bronze Age (3,000 - 1,300 BC) onwards.

The Department's Chairman, Sheikh Majid bin Saud Al Mu'alla, said in a statement that: " We are grateful to Peter Hudson for taking the initiative to preserve and then to return these items to us. These artefacts are part of the ancestral heritage of Umm Al Quwain, part of the history of our ancient societies and peoples."

The items will be put on display in a special room in the new Umm Al Quwain Museum, currently under construction. The display will also include a short biography of Peter Hudson, explaining his role and that of his family in researching into and preserving the archaeology of the Emirate, as well as his initiative to return the collection they made decades ago.

"The Department of Tourism and Archaeology wishes to acknowledge the work of Peter Hudson as one of the people who has played an important role in discovering and protecting the archaeological and cultural wealth of Umm Al Quwain," the Department statement said.

Department officials are keen to encourage any people who may find archaeological items in Umm Al Quwain to report them, so that they can be properly investigated and protected. They also urge anyone in possession of archaeological artefacts from the Emirate to take the initiative to hand them over to the Department.

Hudson, a civil engineer, and his family first arrived in the United Arab Emirates over forty years ago. With all of them interested in the country's history and heritage and eager to travel around the UAE, they discovered and documented a wide variety of archaeological sites and artefacts, and also helped visiting archaeologists. One of their finds, a coin found by Mrs. Hudson, was one of the first discoveries from the 2,000-year-old town of ed-Dur in Umm Al Quwain, the Department said.

PH