Posted on 11/23/2025 12:45:21 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
Archaeologists have uncovered definitive proof of early Christian life in the Arabian Gulf, thanks to the discovery of a plaster Christian cross dating back around 1,400 years. The find was made on Sir Bani Yas Island, about 110 miles southwest of Abu Dhabi, and confirms that a cluster of small courtyard houses found decades ago were part of a monastic Christian community.
The cross was discovered by teams from Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism during excavations that restarted in January 2025. The artifact was found among courtyard houses north of the main monastery complex, where senior monks are believed to have lived in contemplative solitude. The discovery represents the largest and most detailed cross found at the site, surpassing a smaller cross uncovered in the 1990s that first identified the location as a Christian settlement.
Lead archaeologist Maria Gajewska described the find as "extremely exciting" … "So much of what we do is interpretation and sometimes bordering on guesswork, frankly, and this was just lying there telling us, yes, they were Christian," she explained.
The artifact incorporates distinctive regional motifs, including a stepped pyramid representing Golgotha, where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, and leaves sprouting from its base - elements that demonstrate local adaptation of Christian symbolism.
Emirati archaeologist Hager Al Menhali, who made the initial discovery, noted a distinct fingerprint on the back of the plaque, likely left by the craftsperson who created this sacred object centuries ago.
The Christian community belonged to the Church of the East…a branch that stretched from the Middle East to China, demonstrating the extensive reach of early Christian networks…The buildings appear unusually clean with little sign of collapse or rubble, indicating that residents may have left intentionally rather than being forced out by disaster or conflict.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailygalaxy.com ...
Rather beautiful.
Artist took credit with fingerprint authentication—nice.
I just realized I posted a different link as the source. Same story, but different from the excerpt:
https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/christian-cross-uae-0022378
End the occupation of Christian Abu Dhabi!!!
Well thankfully the Arab world does try to preserve history and boast of great museums. Abu Dhabi is tourist heavy so they want positive publicity.
Muslim civilizations did go through ebbs & flows of peaceful co-existence with Christians and Jews through the centuries.
That thought just reminded me of the ancient Buddha statues in the Afghan mountains that the Taliban had ordered to be destroyed!
https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-bamiyan-buddhas-195108
*That thought just reminded me of the ancient Buddha statues in the Afghan mountains that the Taliban had ordered to be destroyed!*
Same here. Every time I’m reminded of that, I get angrier about it. Totally unnecessary.
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