The Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, has uncovered a cemetery in Al Ain dating back to the Wadi Suq period and Late Bronze Age, between approximately 2000 and 1300 BCE.
The tomb is located within the Pre-Islamic Qattarah Necropolis, which is close to Al Qattara Oasis. The discovery offers a fascinating new glimpse into the customs, craftsmanship and resourcefulness of ancient communities in the Arabian Peninsula. It also further highlights the importance of the Al Ain Region as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Qattarah Necropolis has long been recognised for its rich archaeological landscape. Previous finds at the site include communal tombs from the Wadi Suq and Late Bronze Age periods, individual Iron Age shaft tombs and tower tombs dating to the Late Pre-Islamic era.
The newly excavated tomb is particularly notable for its excellent condition and unusual construction. It was built largely from repurposed ashlar blocks taken from even older Umm an-Nar funerary monuments, dating to between 2700 and 2000 BCE.
Measuring around 11 metres by 2.5 metres, the underground chamber is believed to have been used as a communal burial site over a period of at least 1,000 years. Its entrance was also carefully positioned so that the rising sun could illuminate the interior during burial rituals.
One of the tomb’s most striking features is a stone door weighing more than 200 kilograms, which was shaped from material taken from an earlier monument. Archaeologists also uncovered a collection of artefacts, including vessels, weapons and personal ornaments.
These objects, along with the human remains found inside the tomb, are now being studied by DCT Abu Dhabi’s archaeologists and osteoarchaeologists. Advanced techniques, including isotopic and DNA analysis, could reveal fascinating details about ancient communities, from their diets and health to migration patterns and regional trade networks.
The discovery further supports DCT Abu Dhabi’s ongoing work to protect, preserve and showcase the emirate’s cultural heritage. Artefacts from the Late Bronze Age tomb are expected to go on display at museums across Abu Dhabi, giving the public a closer look at this remarkable chapter of the region’s history.
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