Echoes of the spice route: Sharjah’s archaeological wonders on display in Rome

Artefacts from Sharjah shed light on the deep commercial and cultural ties between the Arabian Peninsula and the Italian city

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, centre, and Eisa Yousif, left, the general director of Sharjah Archaeology, at the inauguration of From Sharjah to Rome: Along the Spice Route, in the Italian capital. Photo: Sharjah Investment and Development AuthorityShow less

Two millennia ago, the aromas of Arabian scents such as frankincense and myrrh drifted through the markets of ancient Rome. How these precious commodities reached the empire is the focus of a new exhibition, From Sharjah to Rome: Along the Spice Route, currently on display at the Curia Julia – the former seat of the Roman Senate – in the heart of the Italian capital.

Organised by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, the exhibition features 110 artefacts unearthed in the emirate, dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE. These discoveries highlight Sharjah’s role as a key node in the ancient trade route linking Rome with the East, including Mesopotamia, India, Central Asia and China.

Some of the objects on display were excavated from the desert landscapes of Mleiha, Dibba and Al Hisn. These include a twin-handled, green-glazed ceramic amphora from southern Mesopotamia, linked to funerary rituals; Roman coins, alongside locally produced imitations reflecting the interconnected nature of ancient commerce; a necklace with 99 spherical beads made of gold and agate; ivory combs and Hellenistic-inspired earrings.

Eisa Yousif, general director of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, states that these findings further underscore the emirate's crucial position on ancient trade routes while also reflecting its contemporary role as a bridge between cultures.

"The inscriptions found in Mleiha indicate that Sharjah was not an isolated region, but rather a crucial player in the ancient world’s trade networks. The connection between the Arabian Peninsula and Rome was not incidental – it was part of a vast commercial and cultural exchange that left lasting imprints on both civilisations," he said.

"These cities stood at the junction of ancient routes that connected India and farther China with the Mediterranean and Rome. The objects we see here – statuettes of the deity Aphrodite, Indo-Greek and Roman coins, incense burners, jewellery and weapons – testify to how Rome and Italy were in contact with those territories.”

A modern copy of a 3rd century funerary inscription on a lime plaster block. Photo: Archaeological Park of the Colosseum

Italian archaeologist Alfonsina Russo, director of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum, highlighted the significance of scents and aromatics sourced from Sharjah and its surrounding regions. These ingredients, used for both culinary and medicinal purposes, were so valued in the Roman Empire that their trade was regulated by imperial authorities.

"They were among the most valuable and sought-after commodities in Rome because they were used in sacred ceremonies and daily life," she notes. "And this is precisely why they were regulated. Not far from the exhibition site, warehouses commissioned by Emperor Domitian in the late 1st century AD were built to store pepper and other incense spices."

Ceramics and pottery used in sacred Roman rituals and daily life feature in From Sharjah to Rome: Along the Spice Route. Photo: Archaeological Park of the Colosseum

Regarded as the first Arab-focused exhibition at Rome’s Colosseum complex, where the Curia Julia is located, the show highlights Sharjah’s role in significant cultural discoveries, shedding light on the deep historical ties that connected ancient civilisations.

It also brings attention to Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape, an area that includes parts of Mleiha, and has been nominated as a potential Unesco World Heritage Site. The UAE’s Ministry of Culture submitted the nomination in 2023, and it is under review.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, chairwoman of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, is heading the nomination campaign. She emphasises the significance of the emirate's archaeological heritage in deepening the understanding of early human civilisation and migration patterns.

An archaeological dig at Jebel Faya in Sharjah. Photo: Knut Bretzke

“Sharjah has long been a crossroads of ancient civilisations, where stories, ideas and cultures have converged for millennia. Historical sites like Mleiha reveal stories from the Bronze Age and pre-Islamic periods, showcasing extraordinary ingenuity and prosperity,” she said.

“The Faya Palaeolandscape unveils a significant chapter of human history spanning over 200,000 years, holding a pivotal place in humanity’s journey by documenting the migration of people out of Africa and into the region. It is more than an archaeological site – it is a living laboratory, unlocking the secrets of human origins and inviting the world to better understand its own story.”

Khuloud Al Houli Al Suwaidi, director of tangible cultural heritage at the Sharjah Archaeological Authority, said we are still only beginning to uncover Faya Palaeolandscape’s full potential.

"This is not the end of the excavation. We have explored only 20 per cent of the site, while the remaining 80 per cent will be left for future generations," she said. "You can only imagine the depth of history buried there and the discoveries yet to come that will expand our understanding of the past."