Abu Dhabi archaeology: ancient wonders found in the Arabian desert

(CNN) — The UAE may have just celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence, but Abu Dhabi has centuries of history.

The largest emirate is home to a range of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and some of the best-preserved forts in the country, showcasing important locations over the centuries and telling the story of the Emirati people’s connection to land and sea.

A short drive away is the oasis town of Al Ain, where some of the most magical treasures of past generations have come back to life, a living museum that pays homage to the country’s Bedouin roots. Visitors to the UAE must truly experience its authentic culture and heritage.

Known as the Garden City, Al Ain was once an important oasis on the caravan route from the UAE to Oman and is now home to several UNESCO-protected sites.

Below are some of Abu Dhabi’s important archaeological and historical treasures.

Qasr Al Hosn

The 18th century Hosn Palace, or Qasr al Hosn, began as a single watchtower in the 18th century, and as the complex grew, it eventually became the seat of power until the late 1960s.

“The people who used to live in this place told beautiful stories about the palace,” said Natalie Leslie, the emirate’s tour guide. “The gates of the palace are very open and people can talk to the chief and tell them their concerns.”

Today, the palace remains an important attraction for tourists and Emiratis who come to the Palace Cafe to savor the place their ancestors had so fondly talked about.

The palace also showcases local culture through regular exhibitions and events.

Al Ain Oasis

Al Ain has 100 species of date palms.

Barry Nield/CNN

The UAE’s first UNESCO site is the striking Al Ain Oasis.

Located in the heart of the Garden City, the site dates back more than 4,000 years and is evidence of one of the earliest irrigation systems in modern times.

Known as “falaj”, the system drew water from the nearby Hajar Mountains through a series of narrow channels still visible today.

Visitors can choose walking trails among the more than 1,200 hectares of grounds that contain more than 147,000 date palms and 100 species of date palm.

The centuries-old falaj system was only updated in the 20th century with the introduction of pumps. Visitors can also use the Eco Center to gain a deeper understanding of the ancient Bedouin irrigation systems.

Bida Bint Saud

A treasure trove for archaeologists, Bidaa Bint Saud is an ancient caravan site located 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of Al Ain.

Once home to a large peasant community that stretched all the way to the northern emirates, this charming area took advantage of the region’s network of falaj irrigation systems, and boasts a rare Iron Age building and 5,000-year-old Bronze Age tombs and the towering Garn Binh T. Sartre.

The 40-meter-high rock towers over the landscape, with several ancient stone tombs on top. Some of the finds from the area, such as pottery, dagger blades, jewellery and bronze arrowheads, are now on display in the Al Ain National Museum.

Hiri Archaeological Park

The area’s history dates back to the Bronze Age (3200-1300 BC) and Iron Age (1300-300 BC), showing evidence of ancient life that once inhabited the region’s deserts.

Archaeologists have discovered villages, cemeteries and agricultural infrastructure from what is now known as the Umm an-Nar period, named after the island off the coast of Abu Dhabi where the culture was first discovered remains.

It is also home to the largest burial and complex in the UAE from this period.

Tomb of Jebel Hafeet

In addition to being the highest peak in Abu Dhabi, Jebel Hafeet (Hafeet Hill) is also home to some 500 5,000-year-old tombs, marking the beginning of the UAE’s Bronze Age.

First discovered by archaeologists through excavations in 1959, ceramic vessels and bronzes were found in igloo-shaped tombs, indicating the importance of maritime trade in the Arabian Gulf.

The one-chamber tomb is a dramatic site that provides a window into the past.

Tour guide Leslie called it one of Abu Dhabi’s “hidden gems”.

“Most people are unaware of all these discoveries in this area,” she said. “Although the UAE is a relatively young country, it has ancient discoveries that prove the region was once a busy place that made history.”

Fort Young

Located at the gateway to the main island of Abu Dhabi, this small but important fort was built in the late 18th century using basic materials such as coral stone, beach rock and sand, and its towers will guard and protect Abu Dhabi for many years to come zabi.

“As Qasr al Hosn developed into a very important place for the locals, Maqta Fort became a rest stop for people entering Abu Dhabi,” Leslie said.

Al Ain Palace Museum

Al Ain Palace was once the home of the ruling family of the UAE.

Dudrazov/Adobe Stock

Al Ain Palace was once the residence of the late Sheikh Zayed, the first President of the UAE, until the 1960s, where the ruling family lived, then as the main island of Abu Dhabi was transformed into the political and economic capital, they Make the city of the emirate your permanent home.

Visitors can get a glimpse of life inside the residence, a memory from before the discovery of oil in the mid-20th century.

Although not ‘old’ compared to other sites in the emirate – the oldest building in the complex was built in 1937 – it is made of traditional materials from that era, embellishing the heritage of these properties in the area at the time patio. period.

Now a museum, visitors can see important connections between past and present and appreciate Abu Dhabi’s rapid transition from Bedouin life to modern opulence.

Emirati tour guide Shamsa Al Naqbi said: “If you are a history buff and want to learn about the royal family and traditional architecture of this era, this is the perfect place to go.

“It’s an in-depth look at the royal life, their rooms, the style of architecture, the objects they’ll be using, so it’s a great place to see the real history of the UAE. It also really shows how our ancestors transformed into what we have today. Modern UAE.”

Sir Baniyas Island Church and Monastery

Off the beaten track is Sir Baniyas Island in the western region, accessible by boat or plane from Abu Dhabi via the Anantara Resort, which manages the remote island’s tourism industry.

Leslie explained that the church and monastery, discovered in the early 1990s, is the only pre-Islamic Christian site found in the UAE. It is the source of hundreds of artifacts that offer fascinating insights into life during this period.

“Like life in the UAE before the discovery of oil, the inhabitants of this settlement depend on the ocean for their food,” she said. “They also raise animals such as sheep and cattle and trade through the Arabian Gulf into the Indian Ocean.”

Sir Baniyas Island is now a wildlife sanctuary, home to a variety of protected animals from Arabian oryx to gazelles, which visitors can see for themselves on safari.