Friday Magazine

Located in the Al Abar area on Shaikh Rashid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Road, the rather nondescript single-storied structure belies the treasure trove of compelling archaeological wealth it holds within its galleries. As our guide, Maha Al Hamadi, leads us in, she tells us that archaeological excavations in Sharjah commenced in 1973 when a gravestone bearing inscriptions was discovered in Mleiha in the western foothills of the emirate by a resident in the late 1960s. ‘This marked the beginning of a series of excavations that eventually led to the discovery of the remains of ancient settlements here, allowing experts to create a more accurate chronological timeline beginning with the first signs of human presence in the region.’

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Imported black painted greyware and rare alabaster bowls from Iran, ceramic pottery and softstone utensils from other regions including Iraq, Central Asia and the Indus Valley civilisation, bronze knives and spearheads, ivory hair combs and hairpins from Indian tuskers with floral decorations engraved in Central Asian style, and a rich find of carnelian and gold jewellery that were buried along with the dead are now on display at the museum.

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As we enter the Greater Arabia gallery, representing the final part of the timeline covering the late pre-Islamic history of Sharjah from 300BCE-611CE, our guide tells us that the beginning of this period marked the time when the Arabian Peninsula became part of a trading network that linked the countries in the Indian Ocean with those of the Mediterranean, thereby opening trade links with many great civilisations of the time.

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This period is marked by evidence of contact as far away as Rome to the north, India to the east and Egypt to the west, with incense being a prized commodity of trade. Coins modelled on those of Alexander the Great, Roman glass vessels, Greek amphorae, Yemeni alabaster vessels, and several other luxury goods have been unearthed from tombs, which now moved towards single burials in tower-like structures. The increasingly important role of camels in society saw them being ritually slaughtered to be buried along with their owners. At the flourishing settlement of Mleiha was discovered a horse grave buried with its fabulous gold bridle still on – prominently showcased at the museum.