Fossil Vertebrates of Arabia

Fossil Vertebrates of Arabia

The presence of important vertebrate fossils from the late Miocene period in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi should be no secret to readers of Tribulus. A preliminary report on the work by the Natural History Museum (London) and Yale University, in association with Al Ain's Department of Antiquities and Tourism, was carried in the first issue of Tribulus, while there have been occasional updates over the years. Indeed, Group members have, in the past, had the pleasure of being conducted around the areas concerned by the editors of this volume, who co-ordinated the work and carried out much of the investigation themselves. Now, after a long period of gestation, this book presents in scientific form the results of their work to a broader academic audience.

Fossil Vertebrates of Arabia is, in essence, the collected papers from a conference of the same name held in Jebel Dhanna a number of years ago under the patronage of Group Patron HE Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, and reports in detail on the results of the several years of fieldwork carried out in an area stretching from Mirfa, in the east, to the edge of the Sabkhat Matti, at Jebel Barakah, in the west. Besides the UAE-related papers, there are also papers relating the discoveries in the Western Region to other areas.

This book, by virtue of its nature as a detailed study of aspects of the palaeontology of the Baynunah district of the Western Region, is designed for the specialist and the layman, therefore, will find many of the terms used somewhat difficult to comprehend. Within its 36 chapters, written by 49 contributors from 12 countries, however, is information of major importance not merely for an understanding of the late Miocene period within the Emirates (around 6 - 8 million years ago), but also for the place of the UAE within the geology and palaeontology of the region. The separate studies of the types of fauna to have been found, such as large land mammals like ancestors of today's elephants and horses, and freshwater dwellers such as fish and turtles, along with geomagnetic studies of the two geological formations, Baynunah and Shuweihat, have permitted the editors and authors to develop the now well-known model of Late Miocene Abu Dhabi. At the time, for example, a large freshwater river, perhaps 100 metres or so wide, flowed into the Gulf in the Mirfa area, while the surrounding habitat, as far as the eastern edge of the Sabkhat Matti, was more like an African savannah than the arid desert of today.

Several formerly unknown species of vertebrates are described as well as other discoveries such as fossil eggshell of a large ancestor of the ostrich - all helping to build up a picture of a very different fauna and flora, while there is also discussion on the regional geologic setting, palaeo-ecology and palaeo-geography.

Evidence is also presented that the UAE in the late Miocene period acted as a kind of land-bridge between Africa and Asia, and with Arabia still connected to Africa, and the Red Sea not yet formed, it was possible for animals to migrate between the two continents. In this sense, the Baynunah region is of significance not merely locally but internationally, for examination of its fossil fauna permits a greater understanding of the evolution of species from both Africa and Asia during this period. Indeed, the editors have suggested that the Baynunah fossils are the best representatives of terrestrial vertebrate fossils of their period from anywhere in the world.

This is not the appropriate place for a detailed scientific review of this book, although it should be noted that it has received considerable critical acclaim from specialists.

It is, however, appropriate to note that much of the work reported on in the book was made possible only as a result of several years of dedicated financial and logistic support from the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations, ADCO, as part of its continuing commitment to the study and recording of the country's natural heritage. The company's commitment to the NHM/Yale research programme was initiated by former General Manager Terry Adams, also a former Vice Chairman of the ENHG, and while the palaeontological research programme has now been completed, continuing support is being provided for an NHM research programme into marine ecology.

ADCO, one of the Group's corporate members, has also supported much other research over the years, both environmental and archaeological, and deserves credit for the way in which it has devoted substantial funds to science.

Many of the fossil discoveries reported upon in this book are shortly to be returned to Abu Dhabi, where it is hoped they will eventually go on display, in order to introduce the wider public to some of the results of the work of Whybrow, Hill and their colleagues.

In the meantime, this book is highly recommended for anyone with even a passing interest in the topic of the origins of the Emirates. Scientific terminology notwithstanding, it contains much that will fascinate not merely the specialist, but also the general reader with a basic familiarity with the topic.