New archaeological research highlights Tell Abraq as a key point of connection between southeastern Arabia and major trading powers across the Persian Gulf. Findings at the coastal site in the United Arab Emirates show how outside influences shaped its role over centuries, especially during the Late Bronze Age and early centuries AD.
Michele Degli Esposti of the Polish Academy of Sciences led the study, published in Antiquity. His team traced shifts in the settlement’s function, showing how it moved from being a regional center to a site of cultural exchange influenced by foreign trade and religious activity.
Located in Umm al-Quwain, Tell Abraq reveals over 3,000 years of continuous occupation. Excavations since 2019 have revealed strong evidence of commercial links during two key periods: from roughly 1500 to 1100 BC and again between the first and third centuries AD.
Tell Abraq and imported goods
Degli Esposti reported that during the Late Bronze Age, a large stone building was constructed with advanced materials and techniques not typical for the region. Known as B-I, the structure featured thick mortar and imported pottery, including jars similar to those made in southeastern Iran.
Some of these containers bore seal impressions that matched styles from Mesopotamia and Elam, suggesting the movement of goods from those regions.
Openings in the building’s floor align with the size of the jars, pointing to a specific system for storage. While the presence of foreign ceramics was rare elsewhere at the site, their concentration in B-I suggests that it may have served as a hub for receiving and possibly redistributing imported items.
In contrast, the Early Iron Age II phase, from about 800 to 500 BC, saw a decline in trade activity. Evidence from this time includes domestic areas and kilns reused as refuse pits. Researchers found no imported objects from this period, indicating reduced external contact.
Shrine activity and expanding networks
The study also details later use of the site during the first few centuries AD. Residential structures disappeared, replaced by a shrine known as B-III. Findings there include bronze figurines, local coins, Roman-style imitations, and an Aramaic inscription. Degli Esposti explained that these objects reflect links with regions as far as India, South Arabia, and the Roman Levant.
The presence of offerings points to the shrine’s use by traveling merchants. It likely served as a religious stop where traders gave thanks or sought blessings before continuing their journeys.
Degli Esposti concluded that the site’s shifting purpose reflects broader regional dynamics. Tell Abraq offers insight into how Arabian communities were connected through trade even without forming large political states.
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