Before the Danish archaeological surveys and organised excavations almost nothing was known of the archaeology and the ancient history particularly about the so called ‘Stone Ages’ in Qatar Peninsula.
The very first surveyed routes which the Danes followed during their mission searching for ancient and historical sites started from Dukhan city situated on the north-western direction of the peninsula and lasted from March 18 till 21 of 1956. From Dukhan, the team headed toward the northwestern direction until they had reached Zubara settlement.
After intensive field surveys around Zubara and Fieraha settlements, the team drove toward south-eastern direction until the city of Al Khor. From there, the team moved southward toward Doha and Mesaieed cities. From Doha the team surveyed the areas of Hazem Berich and Karana until Dukhan.
During this very short survey mission the Danes managed to report a number of burial mounds built of stones, a good number of tools made of flint and some scattered settlements attributed to late history.
In the north-eastern direction (north of Al Khor), however, the team reported to have found more remains of stone tools and implements as well in that area. In addition to the remains of some historical sites, a number of abounded coastal towns and stone carving mounds such as Juasasyah mound which is located not so far away from RasGas.
In the following year (1957) the Danes carried out their intensive archaeological reconnaissance in the month of March, which began from Doha city toward the north-eastern parts of the peninsula. Then the team turned toward the north western direction until Dukhan city. Thereafter, the team surveyed a vast area situated between Dukhan and Qala’t Almanaseer (Almanasser Fort).
The results of the survey activities reported also to have found eleven sites most of them seem to belong to Stone Age periods located on western coast and not far away from Dukhan and at Alhamla area..
It is interesting to note that some of the stone tools found were arrow heads, flakes and axe heads. After extensive studies it is observed that seemed to belong to the Neolithic Period, which can be dated back to the fifth and the fourth millennium BC.
Other archaeological sites reported by the team in the vicinity of the surveyed areas seemed to be attributed to early and late Islamic periods. Most of the found material, if not all, were sent to Mushgaard Museum in Aarhus City for study and analyses.
Between the years 1958-1964 the Danish teams intensified their excavations and field surveys in different parts of Qatar Peninsula. They began to dig trail trenches at different sites and settlements marked through their surveys.
Chief among them were Murwab settlement, Ummalma’a (burial site), sites at Al Wakra town, Al Khor area, Zubara settlement, Almazroa’a burial sites, Ras Uwainat Ali Stone Age site na Aljasasyah (rock carvings) mount.
The results of the excavations were published as articles and mainly appeared in Kuml periodical magazine.
One volume under the title Atlas of the Stone Ages Culture of Qatar was published in 1967. Most of the revealed material found during the excavations were also sent to Mushgaard Musuem for further studies and analysis.
The Peninsula
