Founded in 1993 and located in the Al Abar area on Shaikh Rashid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Road, the Sharjah Archaeology Museum stands as a premier historical site in the emirate, offering a must-visit experience for history enthusiasts. As the first museum in Sharjah dedicated to archaeology at a national level, it features an impressive array of artefacts unearthed in Sharjah and belonging to pre-Islamic eras, shedding light on the everyday life of ancient inhabitants in the region and the region’s cultural heritage.
The Sharjah Archaeology Museum is home to 1,000+ archaeological finds dating back to pre-Islamic times, with exhibits ranging from the Paleolithic Age to the 17th century A.D. Visitors can explore a diverse collection of stone and metallic objects, pots, utensils, tools, ornaments, jewellery, coins, and small statues of animals and humans discovered in different parts of Sharjah. The most important discoveries include a 2,000-year-old golden bridle from Mleiha and findings from a Stone Age graveyard with the remains of 500 nomadic herders.
The museum’s collection comprises six galleries, four of which are main sections arranged chronologically, offering insights into the various eras and civilisations that have shaped Sharjah’s history.
The first main section is dedicated to the Stone Age (5000-3000 B.C.), the earliest known period of human occupation in Sharjah. This gallery displays the remains of early fishermen, hunters, and herders, along with the flint tools, weapons, and jewellery they crafted using such materials as bone, stone, and shell. The exhibited jewellery pieces include the most ancient pearl necklace discovered in the Emirates: it is more than 7,000 years old.
The second section, The Bronze Age (3000-1300 B.C.), illustrates the transformation of hunters, fishermen, and herders into potters, miners, and smiths. It features copper and bronze spears, arrowheads, knives, and chisels. The exhibits include pottery and stone vessels, combs, and jewellery made of precious stones, gold, shell, and bone.
The third gallery is devoted to the Iron Age (1300-300 B.C.), a period marked by significant population growth and advancements in metalworking. During this time, people began building underground irrigation channels known as Al-Falaj and domesticating camels. The latter happened towards the end of 2000 B.C. south of the Arabian Peninsula. In the third gallery, one can see more detailed metal items and stone vessels; many of them were traded or buried with the deceased.
The fourth section is Greater Arabia (300 B.C. – 611 A.D.). It exhibits the increased importance of iron objects and the active trade of various items, including incense. This period also saw the earliest examples of writing and coinage in the region. Besides, the results of excavations show that the burial rituals changed during that time.
Those visiting the Sharjah Archaeology Museum with children can be sure their little ones will not get bored. There is a special area for kids, which features interactive displays, informative exhibits, and films. Children are also invited to try their hand at archaeology: there is a dig site for them to use excavation tools to uncover artefacts.
To get more information about the Sharjah Archaeology Museum, please visit its official web page.
You might also be interested in visiting the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, the Miraj Islamic Art Centre, and the Qasr al Muwaiji Fort. Additionally, we recommend that you visit the Jumeirah archaeological site in Dubai.
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