1,700-year-old "lost pearl city" discovered

(NLDO) - The ruins recently found on Al Sinniyah island could be the "lost city" Tu'am mentioned in ancient Arabic literature.

According to Heritage Daily , ancient Arabic texts record an ancient city called Tu'am founded in the 4th century, which quickly became the central urban area of the Gulf Coast in the 5th and 4th centuries, famous for its pearl fishing and gemstone trade.

Yet over the centuries, this great city mysteriously disappeared from both written records and archaeological records.

The ruins are believed to be part of the ancient city of Tu'am - Photo: Umm Al Quwain Department of Tourism and Archaeology

Now, on Al Sinniyah Island, a small island west of the Khor Al Bidiyah Peninsula in the Umm Al Quwain Emirate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), scientists have been in for a surprise.

A team from the Umm Al Quwain Department of Tourism and Archaeology discovered traces of semi-urbanized apartment buildings measuring 30 ^square metres, packed tightly around narrow passageways.

Traces of what was once a pearling village were found. Part of a monastery was also discovered in the area.

Previously, an ancient cemetery in the vicinity was known, where the skeletons showed no evidence of trauma or violent death, although many died young.

Comparing the ancient texts, Tu'am is the only answer, although no inscription confirming this has been found.

However, no other urban remains have been confirmed on this coast where ancient texts say Tu'am was located.

The ancient city was much larger, encompassing the pearl village ruins all the way to the ancient cemetery found earlier.

The mysterious, uninjured deaths of the people in the cemetery also fit with records that the city of Tu'am was struck by the plague, after which its population rapidly declined.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/phat-hien-thanh-pho-ngoc-trai-mat-tich-1700-tuoi-196240617113028372.htm