Yemini Indian Ocean island of Socotra Russian Archaeological Mission to the Republic of Yemen announced the discovery of a site on Thursday, believed to be over 2,000 years old. The site was discovered in the Yemini Indian Ocean island of Socotra and was excavated by the mission’s archaeological expedition. A representative said that it contained a number of stones and wooden boxes as well as pottery shards.
The expedition made the announcement at a press conference held at the Sanaa Yemini General Archaeological Authority headquarters during which they also declared the resumption of their excavations in Socotra for the 2012 season.
Director of the Russian Mission, Professor Alexander Sedov, head of Moscow’s Museum of Oriental Art and fellow member of the expedition Professor V.V. Naumkin, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, said we will soon learn more about this Island, its history and its ties with ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks.
The artifacts are still being studied in order to determine the site’s identity and historical importance. Once this process is complete, they said, we will learn more about this Island, its history and its ties with ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks. The site may also reveal historic secrets about the area and the Yemeni island.
Referring to Socotra as “the jewel of the Indian Ocean,” the expedition leaders said the uniqueness of the island’s landscape as well its historic and archaeological had to be preserved from destructive intrusions.
The Russian Mission to Yemen is celebrating 30 years in Yemen next year and is set to hold a conference, in cooperation with the Yemini General Archaeological Authority, to showcase the fruits of its labours.
The mission’s work in Yemen covers archaeological expeditions as well as research into local languages, culture and folklore and comparing it with other Semitic cultures. It has published two books in Russian on the Socotra Archipelago and Ancient Hadramout which will be translated into both Arabic and English next year.