Australian technology company Global Road Technology to protect Sharjah’s ancient middle eastern site Mleiha from modern challenges.
AN
AUSTRALIAN
company that
specialises in
building
‘spray-on
roads’ on
mine sites and
in regional
Australia has
been selected
to protect an
archaeologically-sensitive
historic site
in the Middle
East from the
impact of
modern
tourism.
The
Mleiha
archaeological
site, about
55km east of
Dubai, is one
of the most
important
historic
excavation
sites in the
region,
providing
evidence of
Greek, Persian,
and Indian
trade routes
and artefacts,
dating back
thousands of
years.
Global
Road Technology
(GRT) is using
cutting-edge
technology to
protect the
ancient site
from the modern
impact of
tourists, with
hundreds of
thousands of
visitors
expected to
tour the site,
and a new
visitor centre,
each
year.
The
site’s
custodians,
faced the
challenge of
catering for a
soaring number
of visitors
eroding walking
paths, roads
and the
historically-sensitive
surrounds.
GRT
managing
director Troy
Adams said
because of the
company’s
Australian-developed
technology the
company had
been selected
to strengthen
and protect the
area.It
is a credit to
our world-class
researchers; we
can deliver
roads and
walkways in a
different way
to traditional
methods, using
less imported
materials,
water and
manpower,
Mr Adams
said.Traditional
methods use
petroleum-based
products such
as bitumen, and
trucking in
large amounts
of gravel or
other roadbase,
which could
harm this
important
cultural
site.
GRT has experience working with environmentally sensitive sites, to ensure the custodians can balance the desire of the public to see and explore these areas, while minimising any harm to priceless artefacts and the surrounding landscape.
While
our roads have
less impact on
the
environment,
they are just
as capable of
handling the
loads and wear
of hundreds of
thousands of
people on foot,
arriving by car
or by tour
coach.
GRT
will work with
local
contractors to
deploy its
polymer
solution to
gravel roads,
and sand and
earth walking
trails, to
ensure visitors
can safely
drive to, and
walk around,
the site in all
weather
conditions
without
impacting their
surroundings.
The
result will be
harder-wearing
road surfaces
and walkways
that retain
their natural
look and colour
but are more
resistant to
wear from
weather and
traffic, have
less
environmental
impact and have
reduced
maintenance
requirements
for the
site’s
owners.
GRT
will complete
on-site works
before the end
of 2015, with
over 600 tonnes
of
environmentally
friendly GRT
products
shipped into
the UAE which
has been
logistically
challenging
with GRT to
continue to
provide
over-site and
minimal ongoing
maintenance.We
are proud to be
chosen to work
with the local
development
authority, and
to help
showcase this
important site
to visitors
from around the
world,
Mr
Adams
said.
About
the Mleiha
Archaeological
Site
- Mleiha is the only known large settlement in the region from the pre-Christian era.
- The presence of iron and copper artefacts at the Mleiha Fort indicates a stable power base, which governed all or part of the surrounding region’s economic activity.
- Researchers have uncovered evidence of market districts, trading routes and goods from foreign destinations including Greece, from where they were transported by sea or land caravan.
- Evidence excavated to date suggests that the residents of Mleiha built tower tombs for their deceased, burying them alongside possessions and valuable items.