Hili 'Grand Tomb', Al Ain (Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE)
Visited November 2012
In the Oasis town of Al Ain (meaning 'The Well'), about 2
hours drive south of Abu Dhabi city, is the Hili Archaeological Park.
Here are some of the best preserved Bronze Age remains in the area,
including the remains of buildings, in particular a tower, and tombs. I
only had a brief visit here, as the light was fading, so the main tomb I
was able to see and photograph is the Grand Tomb (also known as the
Great Tomb). It's fenced off, so visitors are unable to enter the tomb -
sad for those of us with an interest in history/archaeology, but good
for the preservation of the tomb itself.
The
tomb has been reconstructed, mostly using original blocks. It dates
from around 2000BCE, and was excavated in the 1970s by Danish
archaeologists. It measures about 12m diameter and 4m high, and above
the door is a carving of two human figures and two Arabian oryx. It
would have been used for communal burials, rather than one high ranking
individual.
The park itself
seems to be interesting, with a number of archaeological sites dotted
around. If you find yourself in the area (maybe on a stopover in Abu
Dhabi and desperate to get out of the city?), it's worth coming here, as
well as visiting the Al Ain National Museum and the palm orchards in
the oasis beside the Museum.
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