Discovered twelve years before the United Arab Emirates was founded, the Umm Al Nar Archeological Site holds secrets of a bygone era. Imagine stepping back in time to the Bronze Age. It existed around 2600-2000 BCE. This was a time when the area we now know as the United Arab Emirates and Northern Oman thrived.
Umm Al Nar. The name means Mother of the Fire in Arabic. It evokes images of ancient rituals and a vibrant community. This island adjacent to Abu Dhabi gave its name to an entire culture. It provided early evidence that defined the period.
The Umm Al Nar people were important traders. They connected Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. Sumerians knew this area as Magan. It was their source of copper and diorite. The Umm Al Nar culture also traded carnelian jewelry from the Indus Valley.
A key feature here at Umm Al Nar is the circular tombs. They have well-fitted stones in their outer walls. Inside these tombs, archaeologists found multiple human remains. These tombs are often near towers, many built around water sources.
Excavations at Umm Al Nar began in 1959. A Danish team led by PV Glob examined seven tombs and three areas of the ancient settlement. They found shaped stones fitted together. The following year, they started digging at Tomb I. More seasons of digging revealed more tombs. The last seasons focused on the settlement itself.
In 1965, the Danish excavations stopped. But in 1975, an Iraqi team resumed the work. They excavated five tombs and examined a small part of the village. From 1970 to 1972, an Iraqi team restored the tombs excavated by the Danish.
Other sites like Al Sufouh in Dubai also feature Umm Al Nar tombs. Even the Dilmun Burial Mounds in Bahrain have remains from this culture. Settlements linked to the start of the Umm Al Nar culture began around 2500 BCE at Tell Abraq.
The Ubaid period came before. After that, the Hafit period saw the arrival of burial cairns that looked like beehives. These had small chambers for one or two burials. The circular tombs of the Umm Al Nar period set it apart. Black on red pottery and carnelian jewelry became distinctive.
Sites like Hili and Tell Abraq had large towers. They were likely for defense. The tower at Tell Abraq was 40 meters in diameter. Most were between 16 and 25 meters. These fortifications often protected vital water resources.
Sumerian texts mention Magan and its lords. Akkadian campaigns against Magan might explain the need for these defenses.
Magan was known for shipbuilding. King Sargon of Akkad boasted of ships from Tilmun, Magan, and Meluhha in his ports. Naram-Sin conquered Magan. He honored King Manium by naming a city after him. Trade between the Indus Valley and Sumer went through Magan.
Finds from this time show trade with Iran and Bactria too. The oldest case of poliomyelitis was found in a skeleton from Tell Abraq.
Late third millennium crafts included soft-stone vessels. They were decorated with dotted circles. These vessels came in shapes like beakers and bowls.
Around 2000 BCE, trade with Mesopotamia declined. This was due to disasters like the Aryan invasion of the Indus Valley. The fall of Ur and the decline of the Harappan culture also played a role. The port of Umm Al Nar was abandoned around this time.
The transition to the Wadi Suq period was evolutionary. The Wadi Suq culture saw more inland settlement. Metallurgy became more advanced. People domesticated the camel.
The final phase of the Bronze Age is not well known. It was followed by a boom when the Falaj irrigation system was introduced.
Today, Umm Al Nar stands as a testament to a rich past. It tells the story of trade. It also reveals innovation and cultural exchange in the Bronze Age. It is a vital link to our understanding. It connects us to the history of the United Arab Emirates.