1,400-year-old cross discovered in Abu Dhabi – History Blog

Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi discovered a 1,400-year-old Christian cross. The cross is about one foot long and 7 inches wide and molded on patches of plaster plaster. The cross plaque is carefully designed in good condition, cracked but intact. This is an eight-point cross with four small eight-point crosses embedded in the center where the four Vs at the end intersect with the arms. It stands on the stair base representing Calvary Mountain

These portrait elements – the bottom of the ladder, the end of the leaf, the complexity of the pointy figure, are the characteristics of the Christian cross and the Near East.

“Visually, every element of the gypsum cross contains regional patterns,” Maria Gajewska, an archaeologist who led the island’s team, told the country. “The step-stair pyramid at the bottom, representing Gorgoza; leaves sprout from the bottom; the shape of the cross; dots at the end and dots in the niche all find regional similarities in the Gulf and mid-level.”

Archaeologists from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism found a gypsum cross in the yard of an ancient house. It faces down in the soil, and the fingerprint on the back of the patch attracts archaeologist Hager Al Menhali. The team flipped the plaque over and was shocked to see an intricate cross.

Today, Sir Bani Yas Island is a wildlife sanctuary for Oryx, Gazelles and Cheetahs and the open archaeological parks, but in the late ancient times it was home to a thriving early Christian community. One church and monastery dates back to the 7th and 8th centuries and was discovered in the 1990s, determined by another cross sign, albeit with a smaller and less plaque. There is a group of nine courtyard houses nearby, but it is not clear whether they are related to the monastery. The discovery of this cross confirmed that housing was indeed related to its monastery neighbors.

It is believed that the senior monks may have lived alone in the courtyard building and then walked to the church for mass or other services before returning. Another theory is that these buildings could have served as ancient retreats for wealthy Christians away from the world – lamplight’s life and prayer. Ms. Gouzka said the discovery of the dark earth on the earth found on the ground of the building may indicate where the residents have lamps.

A large stone building inspected this season was built using limestone and coral from the island. Ms. Gouzka said the buildings were unusual because they were made very well and had thick walls to deal with the heat of the water and the tanks. This suggests that existence is more comfortable than simple hermit life.

“They could have been senior monks who prayed permanently in the church, otherwise people might have retreated to quarantine during Christian Lent,” she said.

The fate of the community is not yet clear. Christian sects in the region were affected by divisions and philosophical disputes, and their demise accelerated with the advent of Islam. Christian and Islamic communities do coexist during the transition period, and there is no evidence in the places where Sir Barney Yass’ catastrophic events or conflicts. The buildings are clean and tidy, without damage or abandonment. No rubble or rot indicates a slow decline. It seems that residents are planning to return.

Archaeologists plan to return to continue digging courtyard houses and hope to answer some questions about community life and death. They will also be added to the visitor trail marking the archaeological sites of the island.