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The date Palm, Phoenix
dactylifera, has been an important resource in North Africa and
the Arabian Gulf region for thousands of years. Date stones are often
found during archaeological excavations in this region, but the excavation
at Dalma
Island in the United Arab Emirates proved to be of exceptional
interest because charred date stones found there were radiocarbon dated
to around 7000 BP (Beech
& Shepherd, 2001). These are the oldest recorded remains
of dates yet found and may be important in the study of the earliest
cultivars.
Dr Mark Beech is involved in further work with the
Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey
and is comparing archaeological date stones with a comprehensive collection
of modern varieties assembled by Phil Iddison. The database of date
stone measurements so far assembled has been subjected to preliminary
statistical analysis. To find out more details concerning this work
you may read a copy of a paper which was published in the Proceedings
of the International Date Palm Forum, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. - 15-17 September
2002 - by the Emirates
Center for Strategic Studies and Research:
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