Archaeologists in the United Arab Emirates have discovered the country's oldest known buildings, dating back at least 8,500 years.

Discovered by the department's archaeological program, the buildings are located on Gaga Island, west of Abu Dhabi city.

The buildings are simple round rooms with preserved stone walls almost a meter high. The team said in a statement that the structures were probably home to a small community that may have lived on the island year-round.

They added that the discovery showed the existence of Neolithic settlements before long-distance maritime trade routes existed, suggesting that they were not, in fact, the impetus for settlement in the area, as archaeologists previously believed.

Hundreds of artifacts have also been found, including finely worked stone arrowheads that were used for hunting.