HAMILTON History Centre is proud to announce a special guest speaker, Geoffrey Sanderson, a respected horticultural landscape architect on landscape management, will give a presentation at their next meeting Tuesday, April 9, at 7.30pm.

Hamilton History Centre’s new president, Marlene Greiner said Mr Sanderson worked extensively in Australia before spending 30 years working in the Arabian Gulf region.

Whilst working in the United Arab Emirates, he was involved with the Al Ain Oases, an ancient and historic settlement and farming area.

First inhabited almost 4000 years ago, it is one of the world’s oldest permanently inhabited settlements.

The irrigation system that brings water to the oases dates back some 3000 years and is still used today.

The water is sourced from distant mountains and arrives at the oases via a complex system of underground and surface channels.

In 2011, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), granted World Heritage status to the cultural sites of Al Ain.

Mr Sanderson liaised with the World Heritage Committee on the development of the landscape aspects of the heritage strategy for the Al Ain Oases.

Al Ain is described on the UENSCO website, “with its various component parts and the regional context in which it is situated, provides testimony to ancient sedentary human occupation in a desert region. Occupied continuously since the Neolithic, the region presents vestiges of numerous prehistoric cultures, notably from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age”.

“Al Ain is situation at the crossroads of the ancient land routes between Oman, the Arabian Peninsula, the Persian Gulf and Mesopotamia.

“Very diverse in nature, the tangible elements of the property include remains of circular stone tombs and settlements from the Hafit and Hili periods, wells and partially underground aflaj irrigation systems, oases and mud brick constructions assigned to a wide range of defensive, domestic and economic purposes.

 “This expertise in construction and water management enabled the early development of agriculture for five millennia, up until the present day.”

“The presentation will be a fascinating talk,” Ms Greiner said.

“(The) topic should bring ancient history to life, and all are welcome to attend.”

A shared supper will be held at the conclusion of the meeting.