opolis at Jebel Buhais in Sharjah is the oldest in the Emirates and features burials from 5,000 BCE onwards, with graves at the site thought to be those of nomadic herders who travelled inland for the winter season. Many of the burials at Buhais include grave goods such as flint tools, shell and coral jewellery as well as beads of chert, agate and limestone, all of which are found locally, as well as carnelian. The site of Akab Island provides unique insights into what are thought to have been early ritualistic practises, with a unique dugong bone mound discovered there, which not only has no direct parallel in the region but also stands as a rare (possibly unique) find dated to the 'Dark Millennium'. The mound consists of structurally aligned dugong bones, representing over 80 dugongs, littered with jewellery and other artefacts and has been dated to between 3,500-3,200 BCE. Although there is no direct parallel to the dugong mound, Neolithic burials with turtle remains have been noted in Oman at Ras Al Hamra (dated to 3,700-3,300 BCE). Structured dugong bone mounds have been found in totemic sites in Australia on the coast of the Torres Strait: these, however, date to between the 14th and 20th Centuries. The wider site at Akab shows occupation throughout the fifth millennium, from 4,750-3,814 BCE, while signs of occupation in the fourth millennium, apart from the bone mound, are scant. Evidence of occupation patterns at Akab point to seasonality and also the possibility of fish processing (salting or smoking). Both net weights and bone hooks were found at the site, as well as evidence of settlement and bones from a wide rang