Emily Chan
The presence of the ruins of a Christian monastery indicates that the settlement on Siniyah Island attracted Christian monks.
It was established between the end of the sixth century and the beginning of the seventh. For around 200 years, Tu’am was likely a Christian settlement until Islam spread to the region.
“Our archaeological work has discovered the largest settlement by far ever found on the Gulf coast of the Emirates,” said Tim Powers from the United Arab Emirates University.
“And it’s exactly the right period for the city described in the early Islamic geographical sources. It’s clearly a really important place. No one has ever found it.”
Experts have not yet been able to confirm that the newest discoveries represent the lost ancient city of Tu’am, but no other settlements of significance have been found along the coast, which supports the idea that Tu’am has finally been located.
