Ras Abrouq

Not to be confused with Zekreet.

Ras Abrouq (Arabic: رأس أبروق; also known as Bir Zekreet)^[2] is the northernmost extension of the Zekreet Peninsula, a stretch of land to the north of Dukhan in Qatar.^[3] It has a beach of the same name^[2] and various archaeological sites. Since the 21st century it has functioned as a tourist site.^[2]

Ras Abrouq رأس أبروق
Richard Serra's East-West/West-East sculpture seen in Ras Abrouq at night
Ras Abrouq Location in Qatar
Coordinates: 25°34′41″N 50°50′46″E
Country	Qatar
Municipality	Al-Shahaniya
Zone	Zone 72
District no.	203
Area [1]
• Total	11.6 sq mi (30.1 km2)
Time zone	UTC+3 (AST)

Large parts of its territory are legally protected as a nature reserve for wild deer.^[4] Richard Serra's East-West/West-East sculpture was completed in Brouq Nature Reserve in 2014 at the behest of the Qatar Museums Authority.^[5]

Etymology

The Arabic word "ras" translates to "head", and in this context is used to refer to a cape. The other constituent, "abrouq", is derived from the nearby range of light-colored hills in the Zekreet Peninsula (also known as the Abrouq Peninsula).^[3] These hills are said to shimmer in the sunlight, resembling barq (lightning).^[6]

Its name is also spelled as Ras Broog.^[3]

Geography

Ras Abrouq is a cape on the tip of the Zekreet Peninsula near the city of Dukhan in western Qatar. It is 70 km (43 mi) west of the capital Doha.^[7] It overlooks the Dawakhil Islands to the north, serving as a significant coastal landmark.^[8] The village of Zekreet is located south of Ras Abrouq.^[3]

Geographically, it forms the northernmost point of the Dukhan region. The coastal area is relatively narrow, measuring about 3 km (1.9 mi) in width, in contrast to the wider sections of the Dukhan region further south.^[8]

Archaeology

Ras Abrouq is one of the most extensive Neolithic sites in Qatar. It has one of the highest proportions of Ubaid potsherds in Qatar.^[9] Excavations in the 1970s revealed a ring-like structure, hearths, Ubaid pottery, cairns, and stone tools dating to the Neolithic period. Many fish bones and snail shells were also recovered.^[10] G.H. Smith, an excavator of the site, suggested that it was a seasonal encampment and that its inhabitants had trade relations with nearby civilizations.^[10][11]

Further archaeological excavations yielded Barbar ceramics originating from the Dilmun civilization dating to the third millennium BC.^[12] A number of chambered cairns dating to the same period contained 108 beads made of stone and shell.^[13]

Excavations conducted during the mid-20th century uncovered potsherds with Seleucid characteristic and a cairnfield consisting of 100 burial mounds dating to the 3rd century BC.^[14][15] The relatively large number of cairns suggest a sizable sea-faring community prevailed in the area during this period.^[16]

Further excavations revealed a fishing station dating to c. 140 BC which was used by foreign vessels to dry fish during the Sasanian period.^[17] A number of stone structures and large quantities of fish bones were recovered from the site.^[16]

Gallery

• 
  Ras Abrouq contains a high concentration of ostriches
• 
  Hills in Ras Arouq
• 
  Sandstone cliffs at the cape