Archaeologists have discovered what they believe to be a 1,400-year-old Christian cross engraved on a plaque at an ancient monastery on Sir Bani Yas, an island in the United Arab Emirates.
The object features what appears to be an image of a small stepped pyramid that may represent Golgotha, the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified. The style of the cross resembles similar finds from Iraq and Kuwait, and is linked to the Church of the East, which has its origins in what is now Iraq.
The discovery was announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) in Abu Dhabi.
The find is considered significant as it provides evidence of Christian activity in the Arabian Peninsula prior to the monastery’s dissolution in the 8th century. It suggests that a thriving Christian settlement existed in the region at a time when Islam was rapidly expanding and pagan traditions still persisted.
Maria Gajewska, the chief archaeologist on site, explained: “Every element of the cross incorporates regional motifs. It tells us that Christianity in this region was not only present but also flourished, adapting visually to its local context. We had settlements of Christians that were not just existing but were clearly thriving.”
Sir Bani Yas lies 170 kilometres south-west of Abu Dhabi and is now a bird sanctuary and wildlife reserve. Excavations on the island began in 1992, and since then the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS) has uncovered a church and monastic complex, occupied at the same time as the monastery where the cross was found. The cross is considered the most important artefact from the site to date.
The engraved plaque measures 27cm in length—larger than similar crosses previously unearthed in Iraq and Kuwait. It features a stepped pyramid with leaves, which archaeologists believe represents Golgotha, the site of Christ’s crucifixion.
Experts suggest the plaque was likely used by monks for spiritual contemplation and is similar to artefacts discovered in connection with the Church of the East, which once stretched from the Middle East as far as China.
In a statement, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The discovery of this ancient Christian cross on Sir Bani Yas Island is a powerful testament to the UAE’s profound and enduring values of coexistence and cultural openness. It stirs within us a deep sense of pride and honour and reminds us that peaceful coexistence is not a modern construct, but a principle woven into the very fabric of our region’s history.”
(Picture Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism)
