Latest news with #AbuDhabiIslandsArchaeologicalSurvey
Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- Indian Express
Ancient cross dating back 1,400 years unearthed from Abu Dhabi's Sir Bani Yas Island
In a remarkable discovery, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the discovery of an ancient Christian cross, during an ongoing excavation. The cross, moulded on a stucco plaque, is estimated to be around 1,400 years old and was found from the ancient monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island. History unearthed by the DCT Abu Dhabi team! An ancient cross from a 7th-8th century monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island, our first major dig in 30 years. This discovery highlights the UAE's legacy of peaceful co-existence. — Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (@dctabudhabi) August 19, 2025 According to archaeologists, the cross is similar to those found in Iraq and Kuwait, and is linked to the Church of the East, which originated in ancient Iraq. 'The discovery of this ancient Christian cross on Sir Bani Yas Island is a powerful testament to the UAE's profound and enduring values of coexistence and cultural openness. It stirs within us a deep sense of pride and honour and reminds us that peaceful coexistence is not a modern construct, but a principle woven into the very fabric of our region's history,' Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, DCT Abu Dhabi, said on Tuesday. Sir Bani Yas Island, which is located off the coast of Al Dhafra Region in Abu Dhabi part of ancient churches and monasteries that emerged across the region, including Umm Al Quwain, Kuwait, Iran, and Saudi Arabia in the sixth and seventh centuries. Excavations began on Sir Bani Yas Island in 1992 and the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS) has uncovered a church and a monastic complex occupied at the same time as the monastery from where the cross was discovered. Excavations resumed in Sir Bani Yas Island in January this year, and the cross, which is 27cm long, 17cm wide and about 2cm thick, is the most significand find from there yet. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has unveiled its latest archaeological discovery: a stucco cross found in the courtyard of a house belonging to an ancient monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island. The discovery is a reminder of the UAE's rich history.#AbuDhabiCulture — Abu Dhabi Culture (@AbuDhabiCulture) August 19, 2025 Archaeologists are currently researching and exploring a group of courtyard houses near the monastery, where early Christian monks lived in retreat. As part of restoration efforts carried out by DCT Abu Dhabi in 2019, the church and monastery, which are located within nature reserves home to gazelles and hyrax, are now protected by shelters. The Sir Bani Yas church and monastery site has also been reopened to the public with a small exhibition of artefacts from previous excavations, such as glass chalices, a cross-shaped stucco, and a stamp seal with a scorpion motif.
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- General
- Al Etihad
DCT – Abu Dhabi discovers ancient cross in latest archaeological excavation at monastery site on Sir Bani Yas Island
19 Aug 2025 15:05 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the discovery of a cross moulded on a stucco plaque from the ancient monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island, off the coast of Al Dhafra Region in Abu find, made during the first major excavation on the island in more than 30 years, serves as a reminder of the deep rooted traditions of peaceful coexistence in the January 2025, DCT Abu Dhabi launched a new fieldwork campaign on Sir Bani Yas Island, leading to the discovery of a Christian cross moulded on a plaster plaque, an object believed to have been used by monks for spiritual contemplation. The style of the cross shows similarities with finds from Iraq and Kuwait, and is linked to the Church of the East, which has origins in ancient discovery underscores DCT Abu Dhabi's ongoing commitment to uncovering and preserving the emirate's rich cultural heritage, reinforcing the UAE's legacy of coexistence, peace, and Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, DCT Abu Dhabi, said, 'The discovery of this ancient Christian cross on Sir Bani Yas Island is a powerful testament to the UAE's profound and enduring values of coexistence and cultural openness. It stirs within us a deep sense of pride and honour and reminds us that peaceful coexistence is not a modern construct, but a principle woven into the very fabric of our region's history.'The ongoing discoveries from Sir Bani Yas Island, even after 30 years of research and excavation, underscore the magnitude of our cultural legacy and the importance of our continued commitment to its preservation and understanding. As DCT Abu Dhabi continues to uncover these valuable stories, we reaffirm our dedication to preserving, promoting, and protecting Abu Dhabi's diverse heritage, one that we are honoured to share with the world. "These discoveries deepen our connection to the past and inspire future generations to embrace the spirit of unity and mutual respect that has long defined our community.' A seventh-to eighth-century CE Christian monastery was first discovered on Sir Bani Yas Island in 1992 by the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS), under the direction of the UAE's leadership. Excavations since then have uncovered a church and a monastic complex occupied at the same time as the monastery. They are currently interpreted as separate spaces, where senior monks retreated for periods of contemplation and ascetic are currently researching and exploring a group of courtyard houses near the monastery, where early Christian monks lived in Bani Yas is part of a wider group of churches and monasteries that emerged across the region around the same period, with similar sites found in Umm Al Quwain, Kuwait, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Christianity spread and declined across the Arabian Peninsula between the fourth and sixth centuries CE. Christians and Muslims later co-existed until the eighth century CE, when the Sir Bani Yas monastery was peacefully abandoned. Today, the church and the monastery, set within nature reserves home to gazelles and hyrax, serve as a reminder of Abu Dhabi's ancient part of restoration efforts carried out by DCT Abu Dhabi in 2019, the church and monastery are now protected by Sir Bani Yas church and monastery site has reopened to the public with improved facilities, including directional signage and a small exhibition of artefacts from previous excavations, such as glass chalices, a cross-shaped stucco, and a stamp seal with a scorpion motif. A multi-faith church, inspired by the ancient site, has also been built adjacent to the visitor centre. DCT Abu Dhabi will continue excavating the courtyard houses in the coming years, which may be integrated into a wider visitor trail connecting the island's cultural landmarks.
The National
20-03-2025
- General
- The National
Tributes to British archaeologist who helped oversee discovery of major UAE sites
Tributes have been paid to Dr Geoffrey RD King, a distinguished archaeologist who oversaw the discovery and study of major UAE sites, particularly on Abu Dhabi's islands. Dr King, who died in the UK this month at the age of 77, was also a talented scholar and author who worked across the Middle East, mentored countless students and helped preserve historic buildings. His work in Abu Dhabi helped to unearth an ancient monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island – about 260km west of the capital – along with significant neolithic coastal settlements on Dalma, Marawah and Ghagha Islands. He also led a British excavation team at Julfar in Ras Al Khaimah from 1989 to 1993. Dr King and his teams showed that the modern-day UAE had a rich and thriving ancient history, with evidence of sophisticated communities connected to and trading with others across the region and the wider world. 'He was brilliant,' Dr Mark Jonathan Beech told The National. 'He was full of knowledge but entertaining – one of those amazing professor types. He was an infectious character." Dr Beech, now scientific research lead for the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, arrived in the UAE in 1994 to work with Dr King, who was academic director of the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey. Adias was established in 1992 to examine the coast and islands of Abu Dhabi's western region. It was a time of huge opportunity in archaeology with increasing efforts by Abu Dhabi to study what was largely a blank canvas. 'He put together great teams of archaeologists,' said Dr Beech, who was part of the archaeological team that discovered the Sir Bani Yas church and monastery, and worked from 1994 to 2024 as a palaeontologist and archaeologist for the Abu Dhabi government. The surveys Dr King oversaw from 1992 onwards on Abu Dhabi's islands shaped understandings about the modern-day UAE. It led to digs on Sir Bani Yas Island in the early 1990s unearthed the Christian site that dated to the 7th century. Also found was a Bronze Age settlement with connections to the Dilmun civilisation in Bahrain and traces of Al Zahr village, a 250-year-old abandoned settlement of Bani Yas tribe fishermen and pearl divers. The surveys also led to digs on Marawah Island where evidence for a major neolithic settlement with stone architecture dating to 5,800BC was found. On Ghagha Island, incredible stone architecture was discovered "dating to 6,500BC, the earliest evidence for such a site within the entire Arabian Gulf region', Dr Beech said. Dr King was also committed to safeguarding historic buildings and helped preserve a pearl trader's house (the Bait Al Muraykhi, which is today the Dalma Museum) and three mosques (Al Muraykhi, Al Dawsari and Al Muhannadi) on Dalma Island that were built of local materials and without minarets. 'They were abandoned and one had trees growing through it,' Dr Beech said. "He noted they were dilapidated and wrote to authorities about the need to preserve those important buildings. He helped save them." Born in the UK in 1947, Dr King's career took him across the Middle East and beyond, directing surveys of Byzantine and Islamic sites in Jordan in the 1980s; the Islamic pilgrimage road site of Rabadha in Saudi Arabia in the late 1980s; and also in Qatar in the early 2000s where he worked to advise on protecting the country's archaeological heritage. 'He had explored everywhere – from Lebanon to Oman,' said Dr Beech of his late colleague. 'He had been a professorial cultural nomad throughout the whole Arab region. His excitement for studying Arabia and his passion for Islamic culture really rubbed off on you.' Dr King was also reader emeritus in Islamic art and archaeology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and a respected scholar. His books The Traditional Architecture of Saudi Arabia and The Historical Mosque Tradition of the Coasts of Abu Dhabi are important works. Dr King was also committed to informing the public about his work, noted Dr Beech, contributing to the BBC and TV programmes across the world to keep people informed. In the years since Dr King arrived in the UAE, archaeological work has continued to paint a rich picture of the country. Work on Al Sinniyah Island in Umm Al Quwain, for example, found another Christian monastery – the UAE's second after that found following Dr King's survey – along with a major pearling settlement. 'It was sad that Geoffrey didn't stay alive to see the recent discovery,' said Dr Beech, referring to the monastery. 'I did tell him about that – but it was a shame he didn't see it.' He added that Dr King will be deeply missed by family, friends and colleagues along with the countless students and people he mentored, not only for his scholarly achievements but also for his generosity, wit and curiosity. 'I learnt a lot from him," said Dr Beech. 'I couldn't have had anyone better as a professor or teacher. His work sowed the seeds for other archaeologists. He certainly has left an important legacy.'
