Al Da'asa
Al Da'asa (Arabic: دعسة) is an archaeological site located on the western coast of Qatar. It is the most extensive Ubaid site in the country. It was excavated by a Danish team in 1961.
دعسة | |
Approximate location of Al Da'asa archaeological site | |
| Location | Western Qatar |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 25°22′10″N 50°48′32″E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic period |
| Cultures | Ubaid |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1961 1978 |
| Archaeologists | Holger Kapel Beatrice De Cardi |
The site is theorized to have accommodated a small seasonal encampment, possibly a lodging for a hunting-fishing-gathering group who made recurrent visits. This is evidenced by the discovery of nearly sixty hearths at the site, which may have been utilized to cure fish, in addition to flint tools such as scrapers, cutters, blades and arrow heads. Furthermore, many painted Ubaid potsherds and a carnelian bead were found in the fire pits, suggesting overseas connections.
In the mid-1900s, after oil was discovered to the north in Jebel Dukhan, the industrial city of Dukhan was formed to provide infrastructure and services for workers of the Dukhan oil fields. A village was established at Al Da'asa for oil workers employed in Dukhan.