Rock Art Research

This paper presents a preview of the research being carried out in the framework of a doctoral thesis. It presents the methods employed for the documentation and recording of the petroglyphs at the archaeological site of Khatm Al Melaha, located in Kalba (Emirate of Sharjah) on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates, during successive campaigns in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. Due to their characteristics, these petroglyphs have been dated to successive late pre-History periods, and it is proposed that they were made for specific ritual purposes in a natural monument which is undoubtedly significant in terms of its landscape, description and scenery. The study has been carried out respecting the conservation of the petroglyphs, without direct intervention on them, using available technologies (aerial, terrestrial and digital photogrammetry of close-range objects) and applying the theoretical perspective of landscape archaeology to rock art research.