Dhayah |
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Dhayah, just like Shimal, is a fertile area that was occupied at least since the early Bronze Age, 5000 years ago. It is situated further north from Rams, at the edge of the mountains. The central point of the district is a small hill that for centuries or even millenniums was used by people as a defensive point, and in its shadow various cultures had established their settlements. Nowadays, it still holds an old fort, simply called the Dhayah Fort.
Dhayah has much to offer to a keen visitor. The archaeological findings come from the Hafit period (3200-2600BC), Umm an-Nar (2600-2000BC) and Wadi Suq periods (2000-1600BC). Some of the 12 Wadi Suq tombs were carefully excavated and can be seen today. The more recent constructions include watch towers, fortification structures and a number of old houses. The mountains that form a natural wall on the east side of Dhayah also hide deserted villages from the 17th and 18th century. In the future, they are to be accessible for the tourists.
The area near the hill is surrounded by the greenery of the palm tree gardens. It is one of the best places to observe how palm tree is cultivated and how traditional falaj irrigation system is working. Additionally, in the farms other plants have been grown for centuries. They have benefited from the microclimate created by the shadows of the palm trees. Before you wonder around any of these gardens, ask farmers for permission.
WADI SUQ TOMBS
LOCATION: Dhayah, 11km north of Ras Al Khaimah. Follow Oman Rd going north towards Rams. At the Rams’ traffic lights, zero your odometer and after around 2.5km slow down as you need to exit into a small dirt road on the right side of the road. This exit is just after the Brain Tech Industrial Products building. Shortly before you may notice the remains of an old watch tower. Once you are off the main road, drive straight and keep the ruined watch tower on your right. After short while, you should drive along a white wall and then turn left into a second smaller dirt path (500m from the main road). Continue to drive along this path and soon (after 400m) you will approach a house, which you need to pass with it on your left side. Stay on that road, which bends to the right towards the mountains. Then you should see two houses in a distance, head towards them. Park the car next to the house on the left and walk behind the building towards the mountains. Look for the fence that surrounds two Wadi Suq tombs. GPS: N25o52’ 32.00” E56o03’ 23.00” PERIOD: 2000-1600BC
In the late 1980s, excavations carried out in Dhayah by a German archaeological group unearthed the remains of several ancient tombs. These tombs were constructed in the Wadi Suq period and were similar to those discovered in Shimal. The tombs of Dhayah included large collective tombs and smallergraves designed for one person only. Many of these tombs were 8 to 10m long, consisted of one or two chambers and originally would have been around 2–2.5m high. Examples of tombs of horseshoe, oval and T-shapes were also discovered.
Metal tools and weapons were found in these tombs, together with spouted jars, painted beakers, stone bowls, beads and jars of chlorite with lids. Two carnelian beads from the Indus Valley and a golden pendant were considered to be the biggest treasures of the research. The beads gave evidence of trading contacts with Indus Valley and the pendant indicated the level of wealth in the area, probably accumulated from the trade. This piece of jewellery, which looks like two animals standing back to back with spiral tails, is a masterpiece of fine handicraft and it is almost the symbol of the Wadi Suq period. Similar jewellery was found at numerous locations through the UAE and Oman, which may suggest that they were locally produced. Two pendants, one from Dhayah and another from Shimal can be seen in the RAK National Museum.
The directions given in this book are for two large and well preserved tombs of this area. However, more tombs can be found along the foot of the mountains between these indicated tombs and the Dhayah Fort. Most of them are fenced, therefore more visible from the distance, however accessible only on foot. You have to be careful as along the track there are many uncovered and unmarked dried up wells.
DHAYAH FORT
LOCATION: Dhayah, 11km north of Ras Al Khaimah. Drive north out of Ras Al Khaimah along Oman Rd. Pass Rams, and after around 4.5km from the Ram’s traffic lights take the exit signposted Dhayah Fort. There is also a sign saying Qalat Dhayah Rest House. The dirt road to the Wadi Suq Tombs in Dhayah is around 2km before. Follow the sign to the rest house, which takes you to the fort situated just opposite. GPS: N25o53’ 03.33” E56o03’ 37.84” PERIOD: 19th Century
The Dhayah Fort is a 19th century fortress that was built on much older foundations from the 16th century and served for military purposes. The stones in the middle of fort are the remains of these foundations. The fort is situated on the hill top, which nowadays can be reached by way of concrete winding stairway. Wonderful views of the mountains, date palm gardens and coast unfold around the hill and can be admired by anyone who takes up the challenge to climb up.
The fort was carefully restored in 2001 and it is the only hill top fort that still exists in the UAE. It consists of two small towers with crenellations linked by perimeter wall, which creates the inner yard. The fort was used as a short time defence structure as no water cisterns were located up on the hill. At the foot of this mountain there are also the remains of another defence structure. It was a large fort made from mud bricks that served as a retreat for the farmers in times of danger, though now it is almost completely gone. A close distance from the hill, the ruins of watch towers can be found and they originally were part of the fortifications and protected the palm gardens from intruders.
The Dhayah fort played a major role during the British attack on the Ras Al Khaimah sheikhdom at the beginning of the 19th century. Itwas the last point of defence against British forces. The source of the battle was the conflict between these two powers over the control of the Gulf waters, an important passage to India. A period of hostility had started in 1797 and continued until 1819, when the British decided to put an end to the Qawasim power. After a five-days attack on Ras Al Khaimah, the British troops moved up the coast to the town of Rams; which inhabitants had retreated to the Dhayah Fort. Then, the British dragged cannons over 5km of swamp land and bombarded the fort. This historical battle took place on the 22nd of December. The local people under the leadership of Sheikh Hassan bin Ali of Rams fought bravely, however, facing a much stronger enemy they finally surrendered and the fort was destroyed. Following this battle, a General Treaty of Peace was signed in January 1820, in a residence of the Qawasim in Falayah. This treaty not only started a peaceful relationship between the British and local tribes, but also was a foundation for the future event, the formation of the United Arab Emirates. The treaty obliged all the sheikdoms along the lower Persian Gulf to keep peace at sea and the sheikhdoms accepted the British patronage in the area.
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