IMPORTANT HISTORICAL DISCOVERIES ON KUWAITI UKAZ ISLAND BY SHU'A AL-GATI (WITH PHOTOS) KUWAIT, MAY 22 (KUNA) -- THE SMALLEST KUWAITI ISLAND FAMOUS FOR ITS MULTI NAMES, NOT FAR FROM THE COAST WAS NEVER GIVEN MUCH ATTENTION IN SPITE OF RECENT DISOCOVERY OF HISTORICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL TREASURES.
UKAZ ISLAND IS SITUATED IN KUWAIT BAY NORTHWEST OF SHUWAIKH HARBOR OPPOSITE KUWAIT UNIVERSITY HOLDING MANY NAMES LIKE UMM EL NAMEL, SMALL ISLAND, SHUWAIKH ISLAND AND WHITE ISLAND.
SOME CALL IT CONTAINER ISLAND SINCE IT WAS ATTACHED TO SHUWAIKH HARBOR IN THE EARLY 1970'S TO BE USED AS A CONTAINER STORAGE.
MANAGER OF ARCHEOLOGY AND MUSEUM DEPARTMENT IN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR CULTURE, ART AND LETTERS SHEHAB ABDULHAMMED TOLD KUNA THAT EXPLORATION MISSION FOR THE ISLAND STARTED IN 1978 WHEN THE KUWAITI-JORDANIAN MISSIONARY WAS FORMED.
THE ISLAND HISTORY INDICATES THAT THE OLDEST SIGNS OF THE ISLAND EXISTENCE WAS FOUND DURING BRITISH MARINE SEA SURVEILLANCE MANY YEARS AGO DISCOVERING IT IN THEIR MAPS UNDER THE NAME OF AL-QURAIN.
HE ADDED THAT THE ISLAND WAS USED AS A FISHING CENTER AND A SUMMER RESORT DUE TO ITS MODERATE WEATHER.
HE ALSO ADDED THAT THE WIFE OF FORMER BRITISH ENVOY TO KUWAIT MRS. DIXON STATED IN HERE BOOK FINDINGS OF ANCIENT POTTERY ARTIFACTS SCATTERED OVER SMALL HILLS IF THE ISLAND. (MORE) SAQ.JSY KUNA 221602 May 01NNNN