As the world learns to respect the planet, highlighting a stamp issue related to the Gulf Environment Day seems appropriate. However, this time around, instead of talking about the environment I would like to use this stamps to look a little into the ancient history of the Qatar Peninsula.
Looking at the stamps on the 1995 Gulf Environment Day we see a group of 8 sea shells commonly found in the region. They originate from six different subspecies, but three belong to the same superfamily, the Muricidae. The Muricidae, commonly referred to as Rock Snails, are small to large predatory sea snails. They have a range of shapes, but mostly have a raised spire and a strong sculpture with rises spiral ridges.
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The Muricidae Family have an additional common feature, they are known to produce a purple dye, that has been favoured by the Kings and Rulers from ancient times to today. Different shells producing a slightly different pigment. Archeological digs in the North East of Qatar have shown extensive production of this dies and vestiges of trade between the peninsula and other lands further out in the Arabian Gulf (see below).
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It is perhaps logical to see that such an ancient and valuable trade would leave its mark on the people of the Peninsula. This is the case, as the dye has been and continues to be the source of the national colour and that of the Qatari Flag (see below).
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