From graves to ceramics, glass vessels and more, the UAE capital has made some massive discoveries
The UAE capital has dug up the past, quite literally.
According to reports, the new archaeological discoveries in Al Ain have unearthed sites and artefacts from the Iron Age and the Pre-Islamic period.
Covering a time span from approximately 1300 BCE to 600 CE, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi’s (DCT) archaeologists have made some significant finds.
The discoveries took place during excavations of part of a Late Pre-Islamic (300 BCE-300 CE) cemetery encountered during the upgrading of roads and infrastructure in Al Ain’s Kuwaitat area.
Around 20 individual graves were uncovered, producing some well-preserved objects, including ceramics, bronze bowls and other glass and alabaster vessels.
Substantial quantities of iron weaponry were also found in the graves including arrows, spears and a number of swords.
The existence of a cemetery suggests a settlement of the same period was possibly located nearby, and the presence of deep underground-water channels (aflaj) in this area provides further evidence for the creation of the nearby Al Ain Oasis.
Further antiques were uncovered during a project along an 11.5 km stretch of the Al Khrais area.
These include an Iron Age cemetery containing a monumental stone tomb and at least 35 graves.
Yet another area revealed pre-Islamic tombs, one containing a cache of iron weaponry, in addition to more than 50 ancient aflaj of various dates and construction techniques. This suggests different phases of Iron Age agriculture and the organisation of irrigation systems and agricultural plots.
Artefacts recovered include ceramics, decorated soft stone vessels, jewellery, shells, metals, weapons, and other objects found in graves and tombs.
The Pre-Islamic discoveries provide evidence that a period which until recently was relatively absent from the archaeological records in Al Ain is not only present but seemingly widespread.
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Image source WAM