The 1,400-year-old plaque, found among the ruins of a church in Abu Dhabi, shows a depiction of a cross with a stepped pyramid evoking Golgotha – where Christians believe Jesus was crucified
A 1,400 year old plaque showing a cross is transforming experts’ knowledge of Christianity’s eastward reach.
Researchers excavating Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island discovered the relic, which displays a stepped pyramid reminiscent of Golgotha – the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified – with foliage emerging from its foundation, according to the Daily Mail.
The artefact was unearthed amongst the remains of a church and monastery, suggesting a Christian settlement that prospered on the island throughout the seventh and eighth centuries, while recent reports show how a previously unexplored ‘Area X’ begins to give up its religious secrets.
Early Christians
Christianity during this era is commonly linked with the Levant, Mesopotamia and sections of Europe, making proof of a flourishing community on a southeastern Arabian Gulf island both surprising and historically important, , reports the Express.
Simultaneously, the area was experiencing dramatic religious transformation as Islam was emerging and expanding swiftly throughout Arabia, whilst ancient pagan customs persisted and Christianity was believed to be declining.
Nevertheless, the existence of a thriving Christian settlement here contradicts that belief.
Christianity flourished
Maria Gajewska, chief archaeologist at the location, explained: “Every element of the cross incorporates regional motifs.
“It tells us that Christianity in this region was not only present but flourished, adapting visually to its local context. We had settlements of Christians that were not just existing but were clearly thriving.”
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism, hailed the discovery as “a powerful testament to the UAE’s profound and enduring values of coexistence and cultural openness,” adding that the find underscores a history of peaceful religious diversity in the region.
This season’s excavations also unearthed pottery, glass artefacts and a small seagreen bottle that may have contained oil or rosewater.
The cross itself measures about 10.6 inches long, 6.7 inches wide and roughly 0.8 inches thick.
Archaeologists speculate it could have been an object of veneration, mounted on a wall with worshippers kneeling before it.
Hager Al Menhali, an Emirati archaeologist at the department, told The National: “The plaster was resting face down and something about it caught my attention.”
She noted a “distinct fingerprint on the back,” suggesting it was left by the person who crafted the stucco plaque.
Future studies will involve radiocarbon dating and further exploration of the courtyard houses, which could eventually be incorporated into a broader visitor trail.
“These discoveries deepen our connection to the past and inspire future generations to embrace the spirit of unity and mutual respect that has long defined our community,” Al Mubarak said.
Findings from the dig suggested that senior monks may have resided in the courtyard buildings, making their way to the church for worship or utilising the spaces for spiritual retreats.
The well-constructed structures, built from limestone and coral with water cisterns, indicate a comfortable lifestyle rather than a purely hermitic existence.
The Christian community was part of the Church of the East, a denomination that extended from the Middle East to China.
The Sir Bani Yas find provides a rare insight into how Christianity not only endured but flourished eastward, connecting Arabian Gulf communities to the broader narrative of the faith’s expansion towards India and Asia.
Sir Bani Yas
Signs of a church and monastery on Sir Bani Yas, dating to the seventh and eighth centuries, were first unearthed in the early 1990s.
A further monastery, probably connected to the same church, was found on an island in Umm Al Quwain in 2022. Comparable sites have also been located in Kuwait, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Archaeologists continue to examine why the Sir Bani Yas settlement went into decline.
The church is thought to have been fracturing before Islam’s emergence, plagued by internal divisions as competing branches pursued independence. However, historical evidence indicates that early Christian and Islamic communities in the area coexisted peacefully and engaged in trade.
To date, no external event has been pinpointed as the reason for the site’s desertion.
Intriguingly, archaeologists have noted that the buildings seem remarkably tidy, with scant evidence of collapse or debris. This implies that the inhabitants may have departed voluntarily, intending to return, rather than being driven away by catastrophe or strife.