Sharjah Archaeology Museum offers a unique opportunity to explore the rich and deep-rooted history of Sharjah, UAE.
What intriguing tales can be gleaned from fragmented pottery, many originating from distant lands? Or stone and metal arrowheads and axes that have withstood the test of time, spanning centuries, and even millennia? What profound insights are waiting to be discovered within burial chambers or from inscriptions or drawings on rock surfaces?
The museum's artifacts span a vast period, from the Paleolithic Age to the seventh century A.D. The collection includes pottery, tools, utensils, ornaments, coins, and small animal and human statues, providing insights into the different eras and civilizations that have shaped Sharjah's history.
Above is a rich find of carnelian, stone, and gold jewelry found in a cave tomb in Jebel Al-Buhais from 2000 BCE. Personal belongings buried with their owners have been linked to private rituals and practices of the period, similar to those traced in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and other civilizations, suggesting the transmission of ideas through human migration and trade.
During the early first century BCE, Dromadaries, camels with one bump, grew, leading to the flourishing of trade caravans. Trade brought way to the emergence of stations to exchange merchandise, culture, ideas, and art.
The ownership of camels and horses has been highly valued by the region's inhabitants throughout history. In particular, owning horses was a clear indicator of wealth, as it required a unique and costly level of care that only the affluent could provide. This is evidenced by the discovery of golden discs found with a horse, buried next to a camel, near their owner's grave in Mleiha, providing a tangible link to wealth associated with horse ownership.
The Sharjah Archaeology Museum vividly recreates the existence of an ancient people, making the their past feel more immediate and vivid.
Works citied:
Khalid Hussein Saleh Mansoor. Sharjah Antiquities Tell the Story. Sharjah Archaeology Museum, 2017.
Swaroop, Sangeetha. “At Sharjah Archaeology Museum, Bringing the Past to Life.” Gulfnews.com, 24 Jan. 2020, gulfnews.com/travel/at-sharjah-archaeology-museum-bringing-the-past-to-life-1.2306418. Accessed 28 July 2024.
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