"Al Ain Museum" It displays 1,800 archaeological and historical objects extending from 300,000 years until today

Al Ain, October 23 / WAM / Omar Salem Al Kaabi, Director of the Al Ain Museum, revealed that the project to redevelop and rehabilitate the museum led to the discovery of important archaeological sites located under the museum campus, including aflaj and a tomb dating back to a period before Islam, stressing that the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi was keen to preserve them so that the visitor could experience the experience of viewing the archaeological sites inside the museum halls.

Al Kaabi told the Emirates News Agency, WAM, on the sidelines of an introductory tour organized by the department for the media this evening, that the museum, after its expansion (to reach 8,000 square meters), displays more than 1,800 archaeological and historical pieces, the oldest of which “goes back to 300,000 years from the Paleolithic era,” and presents the story of Al Ain in a narrative manner through interactive media.

Al Kaabi described the Al Ain Museum as “the point where every visitor to Al Ain should stop” before setting off to other cultural sites, stressing that the museum will be full of various programs for students, families and international visitors.

For his part, Mr. Peter Sheehan, Head of the Historic Buildings Department, revealed to WAM the details of the discoveries, explaining that when the renovation began, the remains of the “Old Al-Hosn Quarter” were first found, which had been demolished in the recent period and documented, and began to appear at a depth of about one and a half meters underground, cut-off landmarks (excavations filled with sand or other materials), indicating that about 200 landmarks were uncovered, most of which turned out to be “Aflaj wells, the oldest of which date back to the Iron Age, 3,000 years ago.”

Sheehan pointed out that another major discovery was a “huge stone tomb” found for the first time in Al Ain, and also dating back to the late pre-Islamic period, around which individual graves were found containing “intact primary funerary objects” that are now displayed in the hall.

In turn, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Nuaimi, Head of the Department’s World Heritage Sites Department, confirmed to WAM that the Al Ain Museum, which is the oldest museum in the country, has witnessed the addition of new facilities that include larger exhibition halls, laboratories for preservation and restoration, and a research center that keeps pace with developments in the field of museums to place it among the ranks of international museums.

Al Nuaimi explained that the continuation of the archaeological excavation has resulted in “archaeological finds” now displayed in the museum, such as pottery, arrowheads, and stone tools, noting that the research center that will be added aims to collect important sources about the cultural heritage of the UAE for researchers in this field, which will make it easier for them to obtain information in one place, learn about writings related to this field, and see the archaeological finds on display, inspect them, and study them by requesting cooperation with Museum.

The department’s archaeologist, Noura Al Marzouqi, explained to the Emirates News Agency that the team used advanced technologies such as “drones and 3D models” during the excavation to preserve the sites and make them available to visitors.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Related