Workers excavate for fragments of artefacts at Hili in Al Ain. Antonie Robertson / The National
Workers excavate for fragments of artefacts at Hili in Al Ain. Antonie Robertson / The National
Workers excavate for fragments of artefacts at Hili in Al Ain. Antonie Robertson / The National
Workers excavate for fragments of artefacts at Hili in Al Ain. Antonie Robertson / The National

Free tours of UAE's archaeological sites will offer a glimpse of life 5,000 years ago


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Visitors to Al Ain can step back 5,000 years in time when two Bronze Age archaeological sites open to the public for two days later this month.

Free tours of the Bronze Age settlements Hili 8 and Hili 4 will be hosted by Department of Culture & Tourism - Abu Dhabi on Saturday, Nov 24 and Sunday, Nov 25.

The tours will take place every 30 minutes from 10am until 3pm at Hili Archaeological Park.

Visitors will get an up-close look at recently excavated artefact, visit burial grounds and explore fresh archaeological digs.

The settlements were established around 3,000 BC and home to farmers who grew wheat, barley, millet and palm trees. Inhabitants traded regionally and kept domestic animals like sheep, goats, cows and donkeys. Tombs reveal that people were buried with jewellery, gifts and jars of pottery.

Workers sift through the remains of artefacts from excavated soil in November 2017. Antonie Robertson / The National
Workers sift through the remains of artefacts from excavated soil in November 2017. Antonie Robertson / The National

Hili 8 is a Unesco World Heritage site and was uncovered by French archaeologists expedition in the 1970s. Emirati archaeologists and experts from the Austria, France and the United States have been at Hili 8 since March to re-examine it with new technology and have uncovered new artifacts as well as plant and animal remains.

The public can register by emailing aanm@dctabudhabi.ae .

Comfortable shoes and sunglasses are advised. No children below age ten.

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Read more:

Remains of Bronze Age Emirati settlement open to public for first time

Digging the past: 40 years of archaeological finds on display in Sharjah

Fresh excavations at historic Hili 8 Site in Al Ain

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