Archaeology and Development in the GCC States

Abstract

In the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), development has led to social, economic, political, and cultural changes. These changes pose challenges and threats to the region's archaeology. This paper emphasises the relationship between archaeology and development in the GCC states. This paper illustrates the ways in which development is changing the region's historic environment and the consequences of these changes on the preservation, conservation, and management of the Gulf's archaeological heritage. It considers the history of archaeological research in the Gulf region and the consequences of oil wealth for the Gulf states’ political, socio-economic, and educational progress. It examines the Gulf governments' attempts to strike a balance between archaeology and development and explores the future of the past in the region.