Sharjah Archaeology Museum is said to be the first museum built in Sharjah. The museum exhibits artefacts that date back to pre-Islamic eras. It also offers a good educational experience for children through educational games and videos.
Let’s explore what the Sharjah Archaeology Museum has to offer:
- Overview
- Infrastructure and History
- Activities
- Location, Timings, and Contact
- Nearby Attractions
- Surrounding Communities
- FAQs
Overview
The Sharjah Archaeology Museum was established by His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, in 1997. It is located in the history-rich suburb of Halwan, Sharjah. This museum is special to the UAE as it is the only one that puts archaeology into the spotlight.
It exhibits artefacts like utensils, pottery, tools, jewellery, coins, and small statues over 120,000 years old. Also, this archaeological site is one of the must-visit museums in Sharjah.
Infrastructure and History
The museum is divided into six halls. Among these, four are main halls, while the other two are secondary halls.
1. The Archaeology Hall
The Archaeology Hall displays the following items:
- An enlarged aerial map of the northern Emirates that displays Sharjah’s location
- Pottery shards
- A modern archaeological site for children’s entertainment
2. The Stone Age Hall
The Stone Age Hall displays the human lifestyle during the Stone Age (5000 B.C. – 3000 B.C.). The exhibits in this hall include:
- Flint tools
- Ornaments made out of stones and pearls
- The most ancient necklace found in the UAE
- Coloured pottery shards
3. The Bronze Age Hall
The Bronze Age Hall exhibits the Bronze Age (3000 B.C. – 1300 B.C.) items. In this age, humans moved from stone to bronze, so most of the items displayed are alloys. These are some of the items exhibited in the Bronze Age Hall:
- Pottery
- Utensils
- Seals
- Ivory combs
4. The Iron Age Hall
The Iron Age Hall exhibits findings that date back to the Iron Age (1300 B.C. – 300 B.C.). It shows how farming flourished in that era as people built irrigation canals and reaped wheat and barley. The hall also highlights trading and networking history, including the first trace of writing found in the UAE.
5. The Arabian Peninsula Grand Hall
Highlighting the period of flourishing of the Arabian Peninsula (300 B.C. – 611 A.D.), the hall explores trade with the region, including items like incense and gum. It also highlights the traditions of Mleiha, where towers were built on nobles’ special graves accompanied by their prized possessions. These possessions include:
- Pottery
- Imported glass
- Pottery utensils
- Ornaments
- Cattle
6. Buhais 18 Hall
Buhais 18 Hall was established by His Highness in 2008. The establishment video is also posted on YouTube, discussing expeditions made locally and in Germany. This expedition led to the discovery of the Buhais 18 Cemetery, one of the biggest cemeteries in the Arabian Peninsula. This cemetery is approximately 7,000 years old and the hall is named after it.
The hall exhibits findings like:
- Beads that were used to make jewellery
- Bones of domestic animals that were kept as livestock and wild animals that were hunted
- Skeletons of 500 nomadic herders
- A vast collection of Arabic art
Activities Offered by the Museum
The Sharjah Archaeology Museum holds other informative and entertaining sessions besides exhibiting the artefacts found in excavations. Here is the list of activities that the museum offers:
- Educational workshops are held throughout the year for families, students, individuals and tourists.
- Monthly lectures and scientific publications for further awareness of the discoveries.
- Seminars and scientific conferences extend the research and awareness aspects.
- Summer camps for kids during their summer holidays, providing education and fun.
Location, Timings and Contact
You can find further information regarding the Sharjah Archaeology Museum below:
Location
The museum is on Sheikh Rashid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Street, Al Abar, Halwan, Sharjah, UAE.
Timings
These are the operational hours of the museum:
- Saturday to Thursday: 08:00 am to 08:00 pm
- Friday: 04:00 pm to 08:00 pm
Contact
You can contact the museum at +971-65-66-5466 for more information.
Nearby Attractions
Other than the Sharjah Archaeology Museum, you can drive to these locations for further exploration:
- Sharjah Science Museum (2 minutes)
- Al Fayha Park (6 minutes)
- Ramez Mall (7 minutes)
- Sharjah Cricket Stadium (8 minutes)
- Al Mahatta Museum (10 minutes)
- Mega Mall (11 minutes)
Surrounding Communities
If you are in one of the following communities, you can easily visit the museum by car:
- Al Jazzat (6 minutes)
- Al Talaa (9 minutes)
- Al Sharq (9 minutes)
- Al Yash (10 minutes)
- Al Qasimia (13 minutes)
- Industrial Area 6 (16 minutes)
FAQs
For ages 2-12, the museum charges AED 5. Those who are 13+ will have to pay AED 10. The entry is free for people of determination and senior citizens.
The Sharjah Science Museum and the Al Mahatta Museum are two museums located near Sharjah Archaeology Museum.
The Sharjah Museum Authority oversees approximately 16 museums.
That is all about the Sharjah Archaeological Museum and its offerings. The exhibits take you on a journey back to the ancient times. Besides that, the museum holds informative sessions for its visitors.
Visit the Mleiha Archaeological Site to learn more about the excavations displayed in the museum. For more places to visit in Sharjah, stay connected to the Property Finder blog.
