Hili Archeological Park is a fascinating glimpse into the history of the United Arab Emirates. The park contains Bronze and Iron Age villages, burial grounds and agricultural infrastructure, providing a unique insight into the lives of the people who lived here many centuries ago. The park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al Ain, and is well worth a visit for anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating culture.
Hili Archaeological Park is a fascinating glimpse into the history of the United Arab Emirates. The park contains Bronze and Iron Age villages, burial grounds and agricultural infrastructure, providing a unique insight into the lives of the people who lived here many centuries ago. The park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al Ain, and is well worth a visit for anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating culture.
Bronze Age
The Grand Tomb is an awe-inspiring ancient structure. Dating back more than 4,000 years, it is 12 metres in diameter and would have originally been at least four metres tall, with a roof. When the tomb was restored in the mid-1970s, it was left unroofed.
Deep in the desert, surrounded by sand and dust, lies the remnants of an ancient civilization. Once a thriving and powerful empire, all that remains now are the ruins of grand buildings and towers. One such site is Hili Site 1, a tower built from mud bricks that would have stood several metres high. Excavated in the 1960s by Danish archaeologists, the tower was found to have a thick circular wall, within which were several rooms, served by a well in the centre. Only the foundations of this building remain today. A similar structure, Hili 10, is located nearby and also has a central well. Its three-metre wide circular wall suggests that it was once a stronghold, perhaps controlling trade routes across the region. These ancient ruins stand as a reminder of a lost civilization, and offer insight into a long-gone way of life.
