Tipped to be one of the most intriguing historical sites in all of Abu Dhabi, the archaeological site in Sir Bani Yas Island offers unique insight into the country’s pre-Islamic heritage and the lives of the island’s earliest inhabitants as discovered by a group of archaeologists in 1992. The site which was at the centre of much controversy is now open to the public and is one of the country’s most engaging cultural attractions.
Spread out over an area of 65 square metres the site is encircled by a fence and is accessible to visitors two decades after it was first discovered and centuries after it was used as a Christian monastic institution. Believed to have been built before 600 A.D, the venue is said to have housed thirty to forty Christian priests during its heyday. Also believed to be the only permanent human settlement unearthed on Sir Bani Yas Island, the locale consists of a compound of several structures. Situated in the eastern quarter of the island it is the only Christian site discovered in all of the United Arab Emirates.
The monastery is also credited with having being an important stopover for pilgrims heading towards Asia in centuries past as a special room devoted to visitors is found within the complex. The room features an area where pilgrims could perform religious rites and leave behind tokens of gratitude according to experts, who also believed the venue was established by a man of God. The human remains of one individual were unearthed at the site and archaeologists agree that the founder of this institution may have been buried here.
Other relics found in the site include 15 varieties of pottery while structures in the complex also included monks living quarters, animal cages and kitchens all encircling a central courtyard with a church in the middle. Ties with Iran, Bahrain and India are indicated by the glass vases, bowls, jars, and ceremonial vessels found at the site. Offering visitors valuable insight in to the country’s Christian era this expansive site in the island is also part of the UAE’s historic and religious legacy.
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Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
