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National
Museum
RAK National Museum has been established in 1987 according
to an ordinance from His Highness Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammed
Al-Qasimi, the Ruler of RAK in Al Hisin. This Hisin was built
in the middle of the 18th century. It is located in the old
RAK town after maintenance.
The
Museum consists of so many parts most important of which is
the Qawasim Room on the first floor. It contains documents,
manuscript and treaties between the ruling family and the
U.K. Government, and also some traditional weapons belonging
to the Ruling Family.
The
other important part is the one allotted for the antiquities,
which were found in different parts of the Emirate. Age of
some of these antiquities refers to 5000 BC, and some of them
refer to the Islamic age. These antiquities are exhibited
on the ground floor of the museum and they are arranged in
historical order. There is also a room for silverware used
by women for decoration.
Al
Hisin
It was built in the middle of 18th century, during the Persian
occupation between 1730- 1749. Most of the modern buildings
inside it were built in the last 100 years.
It was used previously as a residence to the ruling family
up to 1964, after wards it was used as a location to the general
directorate of RAK Police, and later as a central jail up
to 1984.
In
1987 His Highness Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi decided
to use Al Hisin as Ras Al-Khaimah National Museum after maintaining
it and reconditioning it using the original Local raw materials.
Ras
Al Khaimah national Museum contains many antiquities explored
in the emirate. It is considered to be one of the richest
museums in UAE. There are so many annexes added to the museum,
one of which belongs to the ruling family named Al-Qasimi
annex.
There
are also the heritage annex and rooms for the jewelleries,
clothes (dresses), traditional weapons and native history.
It has a section for archaeology, which contains a Lab rotary
for classification and determination of the ages of the findings
in co-operation with some European universities.
Shamal
Shamal soil is considered to be the most fertile in the Emirate.
Some tombstones were left in Shamal since last thousand years.
Many important Locations were found back to the oasis near
the mountain. It is easy to reach there using Shamal main
road. Beside the new road a big grave has been found which
refers to Um Al Nar age, its date is about 4500 years. This
grave is circular with a diameter of 14.5 meters. It is considered
to be the Largest found in UAE. It was built with decorated
walls; it was full of findings, which have been shifted to
the museum. These findings show the Um Al Nar civilization
was very rich and her people were skilful.
Wadi souk culture left behind a large graveyard containing
so many graves from 4000 years back. They are very rare graves
and unique in the Emirates. These graves were found only in
RAK. Some of these graves contain Maglethian characteristics,
already excavation of these graves is over and the sight can
receive visitors. On the mountain, on the high point of new
Shamal village there is a palace which reverts to the middle
ages and it is the only palace found in UAE This palace is
known in the mythology science as (Al Zabba’a Palace),
although that queen lived in prior period to that palace building
time.
Water
tanks and defending walls were built on the hill at Shamal,
but the palace was built in the front side of the hill. It
has a look out on the Shamal fertile valley.
So
many rooms and water tanks are available there. The original
roofs are still there as a sign of the brilliant and skilled
past. This palace had connection with Julfar trading town,
Julfar was the name of RAK previously.
Al
Falaya
The houses of Al Fillaya were built in the 18th century as
summer lodging for Al Quasim Family. These houses were surrounded
with palm gardens; also the locals from RAK to spend the summer
time there used some houses.
Historically
this location is considered to be important because the peace
treaty between the Quasim and the Oman's British armed forces
was signed there in the year 1819.
In
the year 1820 a peace treaty was signed between the Sheikhs
of the Arab Gulf Coast and the British Government at Al Fillaya.
Due to this treaty and after a small period UAE has been established.
Watchtowers
Everywhere in the fertile valley of RAK a visitor can find
signs of the past where fighting was something normal between
the people. The watchtowers are about 60 towers, most of them
have been maintained and reconditioned and the rest are still
as they are.
These
remaining towers are the evidence for the strong defence net
which protected the lands, palm trees gardens and the village
of RAK. On the hills, highlands and some times in the centre
of palm oasis these watchtowers were built with the hands
of skillful soldiers as a protection from any enemy they can
face.
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