Wadi Munay'i |
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Wadi Munay’i, although it belongs to Ras Al Khaimah, is located near Hatta and the southern border with Oman. It is tributary of the large Wadi Al Qawr, which in the past created an important trading route between the East Coast and the mainland of the Peninsula. Nowadays, there are three main villages situated along the lower part of the wadi; namely Munay’i, Wa’ab and Sikhebar. They are nice and quiet villages with friendly and open inhabitants. These settlements hold much evidence of how important this place must have been. The most visible at first are the fortifications located on the surrounding hill. In the past, they overlooked the area and detected advancing enemies. These defence structures, although built a few centuries back, are not the oldest and most remarkable historical findings from this area.
Several ancient tombs were excavated in this neighbourhood; the oldest coming from the Umm an-Nar period (2600-2000BC). An excellent example of such a tomb is situated along the main road in the village of Wa’ab. From the RAK Bank building follow the road for about 600m and then look on the right roadside for a small mound with the fenced Umm an-Nar tomb on top. It is a typical tomb of this culture being oval in shape, from square blocks (although not as finely cut as ones in Shimal), with several inner chambers. The tomb’s grave goods were largely gone but shreds of local pottery and decorated stone vessels were found. Additionally pieces of two pots were discovered inside, one from Dilmun (present day Bahrain) and other from Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), which indicated long trading relations with other lands. The tomb was used for at least 30 burials and was reused in the subsequent periods. Later, another grave was erected on its west side. The finds from this new grave included a few potsherds and a stone cutter, all typical of the Iron Age, which occurred around 1500 years later.
Around 1km further down the road a group of small tombs was discovered during the road construction and three were excavated in 1989. They are situated just by the road, two of the tombs are on the left side, with an old cemetery behind, and one is on the right side of the road. The tombs are fenced, thus spotting them should be easy. On the hill left of the tombs, you can also see the ruins of an old Late Islamic fortification. These tombs are from the later period of Wadi Suq (2000-1600BC). They are a short distance from each other and although smaller in size, as probably built only for a single person, they are fairly good examples of this 2nd millennium culture. The grave goods unearthed from these tombs included the typical Wadi Suq objects such as pots, stone vessels, a few glass beads, a bronze ring and a needle. Alongside these objects, the tombs contained grave goods from the Iron Age, suggesting that they were reused for a longer period of time. Nearby, a fourth tomb was dug up, however, it was different in shape and construction. It was a square structure, cut into the ground; artefacts located inside were clearly from the early Iron Age (1200-1000BC). This tomb continued to be reused throughout the centuries; the remains of a lady with a silver and gold earring from the 1st century AD were also found inside.
Once you pass the villages, you can enter the off-road part of the wadi, which is guarded by a large fortification standing on a small hill on the right side of the valley. This construction is very similar to the fort built in Naslah, which is situated further down to the south in Wadi Al Qawr. Both of these forts provided protection for the inhabitants and travellers along this old trading route. If you continue to drive via Wadi Munay’i, you will not be disappointed, as it is a tranquil and scenic drive. However, to pass through you need to have a 4WD.
As you drive along the villages of Wadi Munay’i, you will notice many old Islamic graveyards. Dating them is very difficult because they were usually used over a longer period of time, not to mention the fact that Islam burial practices has not changed much throughout the centuries.
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LOCATION: southern district of Ras Al Khaimah, around 100km from Ras Al Khaimah. This journey starts at Shawka from where you need to follow signs to Huwaylat and Kalba. Less than 2km from Shawka village, pass under the Kalba-Al Dhaid Highway (S116) and then at the second roundabout turn left to enter the highway, going in the direction of Kalba, Hatta and Wadi Munay'i. After 18km you have to exit to the right into the village of Munay’i (an exit sign says Huwaylat). At the roundabout turn right and drive down the road until you see the RAK Bank building. Here you need to turn left just after the bank. Along this road you will find tombs from Umm an-Nar and Wadi Suq periods. If you want to enter the off-road part of the wadi, continue the trip along this road and turn left, shortly after passing a hospital sign. You will also see a watch tower on the hill on the left side of the road. Turn just before that hill and continue to drive until you arrive at a small village. Just when the tarmac road ends, the remains of another fortification are visible on the right side. This dirt road will take you through the wadi to the village of Fashgha in Wadi Al Qawr. GPS: Umm an-Nar Tomb – N24o56’ 52.55“ E56o09’ 03.53“ Wadi Suq Tombs – N24o56’ 26.78“ E56o09’ 25.13“ Old Fort – N24o55’ 20.44“ E56o10’ 07.92“ NOTE: 4WD is only needed if you want to take the short cut into Wadi Al Qawr.
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