Falaya

Almost 200 years ago, one of the most important events in the history of the UAE took place in what is now Ras al Khaimah, at this site now being restored under the direction of Christian Velde, resident archaeologist in the emirate.

The British navy bombed the coast in 1817 and persuaded the local tribes that they needed protection. A treaty between the British and the local tribes was signed the next year in these buildings in Falayah. That treaty lead to the name "Trucial States" that was used, for the next 160 years, to describe present-day UAE.

The research conducted by Christian shows the history of the site -- how it began as a simple farm and was expanded over the years until it evolved to a home for the ruling family. Throughout the restoration, Christian took pains to use authentic building materials and construction methods.

Restorers left a portion of the original wall untouched	A view of the house, the defensive tower in the middle	A second tower on the site, this one used as a majlis and/or meeting place	Another view of the living quarters of the ruling family
Behind the living area, evidence of the earliest structures	View from the original housing to the living quarters to the majlis tower in the distance	The original mud floor and post holes	The interior of these holes indicates they were used as ovens
Another view of one of the original houses	Trenching by the archaeologists shows different periods of occupation	Trenches mark where the bottoms of barasti fencing was buried in the courtyard material	A general view of the original farm houses
Detail of the wall construction	Individual living quarters along the family building	The majlis tower; note the provision to extend the wall to the left of the tower	Authentic mud bricks were used for walls and fencing
The new mudbrick wall in the foreground	Brien looking at the bricks drying in the sun	Detail of the mudbricks; note the straw mixed with the mud	The original well at the site
Christian (right) and Brien inspecting the well complex	Oxen were likely use to draw water from the well	A shallow basin beside the well for watering livestock	The reservoir beside the well
A smaller, circular reservoir	A view showing the well complex in relation to the buildings