Updated on Thursday, March 30, 2006, 00:00 IST

Abu Dhabi, Mar 30: An important new site for fossil bones of ancient elephants has been discovered near Bida al Mutawa, in Abu Dhabi's western region, by a team from the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey, ADIAS, part of the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Authority, ADCHA.

Their work has been supported by Takreer, the Abu Dhabi refining company, a part of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

The bones date back to the late Miocene Period, around 6 to 8 million years ago. The fossil site was first discovered by Hamed Majid al-Mansouri and other personnel from Abu Dhabi's animal welfare unit, part of the environment agency, Abu Dhabi, and were reported to president his highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan late last year.

Following instructions from Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, an ADIAS team visited the site and confirmed that the bones were, in fact, from fossil elephants. Other fossil bones from the same period were also identified, as well as fossil tree roots up to ten metres long.

A team including a top fossil expert from London has now completed excavation of several major fossil bones and has brought them back to Abu Dhabi for scientific conservation and possible later display.

"Through its locally-based archaeologists and with the help of foreign experts, the culture and heritage authority will continue efforts to find and to record our heritage and to ensure that it is more widely understood by all of the residents of Abu Dhabi." The general manager of Takreer, Ali Saeed al Badi, said.

Bureau Report