The team excavating Saadiyat’s hidden history - in pictures

NYUAD students take part in excavations on Saadiyat in 2015. At one of the sites, almost 3,000 pottery sherds were found. Courtesy Dr Robert Parthesius (NYUAD)

From left: Abdul Al Kaabi, an archaeologist from Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) and Fadhl Al Eryani, an NYUAD student, carry out excavations at Saadiyat site B. TCA, NYUAD and Zayed University are working together on the Saadiyat Coastal Heritage Project. Courtesy Dr Robert Parthesius

Archaeologists including Dr Mark Beech set up at site B. The site is on the eastern part of the island, facing the mangroves. Courtesy Dr Robert Parthesius

Archaeologist Timothy Power, a specialist in late Islamic ceramics and assistant professor at Zayed University, has been working with his students on the Saadiyat Island Coastal Heritage Project since 2014. Delores Johnson / The National

Archaeologists and students have unearthed traces of occupation on Saadiyat Island. Dr Anjana Lingareddy, an archaeologist with Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, looks at a potsherd from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Courtesy Dr Robert Parthesius

Thani Al Remaithi grew up on Saadiyat Island and he is one of the subjects of an oral history project about Abu Dhabi. Fatima has recorded her father’s memories of life on Saadiyat for an oral history project. Delores Johnson / The National

Ahmed Al Haj and Dr Mark Beech, both from Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and Fadhl Al Eryani, an NYUAD student, at a dig on Saadiyat. Investigations have unearthed evidence of settlements from the 18th and 19th century. Courtesy Dr Robert Parthesius

Saadiyat Island: About 90 per cent of the pottery finds on the island are examples of Julfar ware, which was manufactured in Ras Al Khaimah. Courtesy Dr Robert Parthesius

Dunia Al Blooshi, left, Afra Al Nuaimi and Shamsa Al Dhaheri assess pottery finds from Saadiyat in their Emirati Studies class at Zayed University under the tutelage of Dr Timothy Power, an archaeologist and assistant professor at the university. Delores Johnson / The National

An aerial shot of Saadiyat Island: archaeologists have discovered settlements on the island that date from the late 18th century - the same time Abu Dhabi was first established. Courtesy Dr Robert Parthesius

Long before planners imagined its luxury hotels and museums, Saadiyat was a place to call home until the early 90s. Meet the archaeologists uncovering Saadiyat Island’s hidden history.