Archaeologists working at the Qattarah Necropolis in Al Ain have uncovered a Bronze Age tomb that remained in use as a communal burial place for more than 1,000 years.
The tomb, excavated by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), dates to the Wadi Suq period and the Late Bronze Age (c. 2000–1300 BC). Evidence from the site shows that it continued to receive burials into the Iron Age, making it one of the longest-used burial monuments discovered in the region.
The underground chamber was made of ashlar blocks taken from the much older Umm an-Nar funerary monuments dating back to around 2700-2000 BC and was around 11 metres long and 2.5 metres wide. Rather than quarrying new stone, its builders demolished earlier tombs and reused the masonry, preserving elements of monuments that were already several centuries old.
A stone door weighing over 200 kilograms sealed the entrance. It was also made from a previous monument. Archaeologists believe the door was the symbolic divide between the living and the dead. Its east-facing position would also have been intentional, and might have allowed the rising sun to shine into the chamber during burial ceremonies.
Excavations uncovered the remains of hundreds of people, together with pottery vessels, weapons and personal ornaments placed alongside the dead. These finds reflect the tomb’s long period of use and the changing burial customs of the communities that returned to it over successive generations.
Scientists are now analysing the human remains using isotopic and ancient DNA techniques. The results could reveal where those buried came from, what they ate, how healthy they were and whether they were connected to wider trade and migration networks across the Arabian Peninsula.
“The unearthing of this tomb offers a glimpse into the earliest chapters of the UAE’s rich history,” said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi.
Qattarah Necropolis has been the site of numerous important discoveries over the years, including communal tombs in Wadi Suq, Iron Age shaft burials and Late Pre-Islamic tower tombs. Al Ain was the first site in the United Arab Emirates to be placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List because of its archaeological significance.
Once conservation work and scientific studies are done, the artefacts recovered from the tomb will be placed on display in Abu Dhabi’s museums; they will give a greater picture of life and death in the UAE more than 3,000 years ago.
Sources : Abu Dhabi Media Office
