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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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