The Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) of the emirate of Abu Dhabi said on Friday that new archaeological sites and artefacts have been discovered there, some of which date back as far as 1300 BCE. The important artefacts were unearthed by the authority's archaeologists when they were excavating a portion of a Late Pre-Islamic cemetery (300 BCE–300 CE) that had been uncovered during the upgrading of roads and infrastructure in the Shaabiya neighbourhood in the Kuwaitat region of Al Ain.
Some well-preserved artefacts, including entire amphorae and other pottery, bronze bowls, and various glass and alabaster items, were found when about 20 individual tombs were discovered. Significant amounts of iron weapons were also discovered in the burials, including arrows, spears, and many swords, one of which was 70 cm long and still in condition. The presence of deep underground water channels (aflaj) in this region adds more support for the creation of the nearby Al Ain Oasis in this period and the development of the historic landscape of Al Ain. The presence of a cemetery suggests a settlement from the same period was probably located nearby.
During a project over an 11.5 km length of the Al Khrais region, further riches have also been found. These include an Iron Age cemetery with at least 35 burials and a large stone tomb. Pre-Islamic graves were discovered at another location near the border fence, one of which included a hoard of iron weapons. The arrangement of irrigation systems and agricultural plots, as well as more than 50 old aflaj of varied ages and building methods, were also discovered by archaeologists. These historic fields offer a real and understandable connection to conventional agricultural operations.
