UAE Announces Discovery of 3,000-Year-Old Cemetery

A 3,000-year-old Iron Age tomb was discovered by the Department of Culture and Tourism in the Al Ain area of ​​Abu Dhabi, UAE. The tomb contained numerous gold artifacts, most notably golden bracelets and rings, according to artnews.

Containers of an Iron Age Tomb

After discovering the tomb's contents, it was found that it contained small pieces of gold jewelry, cosmetic containers made of shells, beaded necklaces, bracelets, rings, razors, drinking utensils such as spouted vessels, small bowls, and cups, as well as copper alloy weapons, spearheads, and arrowheads.

A 3,000-Year-Old Cemetery Solves Iron Age Burial Mystery

Jaber Saleh Al Marri, Director of the Historic Environment Department at the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, noted that this discovery has changed our understanding of the ancient Emirates. Iron Age burial traditions have remained a mystery, but we now have tangible evidence that brings us closer to the people who lived here 3,000 years ago. This discovery strengthens our efforts to preserve, promote, and protect Abu Dhabi's heritage for future generations.

Information about an Iron Age Cemetery in the UAE

Archaeologists believe that Iron Age tombs were built by digging a shaft about two and a half meters deep. Additional side excavations would have created an oval-shaped burial chamber, where the body and goods were placed. The entrance was then sealed with mud bricks or stones before being filled in.

Tatiana Valenti, a field archaeologist at the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, explained that scientists know how people buried their dead during the Bronze Age and the late Pre-Islamic period, but The Iron Age has always been a missing piece of the puzzle, but we are now in a position to understand the evolution of burial customs over time, and to see what these changes may reveal about the beliefs and traditions of the people who lived here.