Umm an-Nar

Welcome to the island of Oom an-Nahr. As you stand upon this seemingly quiet expanse of sand and scrub, try to strip away the modern skyline of Abu Dhabi that lingers in the distance. …

We begin our exploration at the edge of what was once the main residential settlement. The ground here, though dry now, was once teeming with the daily activities of a resilient people. …

As we move slightly inland, the landscape reveals its most iconic features. Before you are the foundations of the remarkable circular tombs. …

Let us pause by the remains of tomb one. Here, modern science has profoundly illuminated the social fabric of the Oom an-Nahr people. …

Continuing along the path, we enter what would have been an area dedicated to industry and craft. The Oom an-Nahr people possessed a mastery of metallurgy that set them apart in the ancient near east. …

We now step into the conceptual center of ancient commerce. The economic stability of Oom an-Nahr was built upon a vast network of reciprocal interaction. …

Our final stop within the main site brings us to the domestic artifacts that define daily life. The earth here has yielded an incredible array of ceramics. …

As our tour of Oom an-Nahr draws to a close, take a moment to look out once more over the glittering waters of the Persian Gulf. Like all great civilizations, the society that built these monumental tombs and forged these vast…