3,000-year-old Iron Age cemetery discovered in Al Ain

A cemetery dating back 3,000 years has been unearthed in Al Ain, which archaeologists believe will help piece together a once-lost chapter of the UAE’s heritage.

The site includes burial chambers filled with grave goods such as pottery, metal weapons, shell containers and jewellery.

The Archaeology Section of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) said the necropolis, believed to contain over 100 tombs, will offer new insight into burial practices during a previously undocumented period of the country’s history.

"This discovery transforms our understanding of the ancient Emirates,” said Jaber Saleh Al Merri, Director of the Historic Environment Department at DCT Abu Dhabi.

"It brings us closer to the people who lived here 3,000 years ago and supports our mission to protect Abu Dhabi’s heritage," he added.

Human remains found at the site are being studied to determine age, health and lineage. DNA analysis may also reveal ancient migration patterns and family relationships.

The cemetery’s unique tombs were built underground with no surface markers, which may explain why Iron Age burials in Al Ain remained undiscovered until now.

The discovery was made as part of the Funerary Landscapes of Al Ain Project, launched in 2024 to investigate tombs uncovered during construction. The project supports ongoing efforts to research the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al Ain.

"We know how people in the Bronze Age and Late Pre-Islamic period buried their dead, but Iron Age burials were the missing piece of the puzzle. This find helps us trace the evolution of local customs and beliefs," said Tatiana Valente, Field Archaeologist at DCT Abu Dhabi.

.@dctabudhabi has unearthed a major Iron Age cemetery, the first discovery of its kind in Al Ain Region. The site, containing more than a hundred tombs and an array of artefacts, casts a new light on a previously unknown chapter of #AbuDhabi’s rich heritage. pic.twitter.com/vEHNxONTkx

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) April 21, 2025