A team of archaeologists in Abu Dhabi has uncovered a 1,400-year-old slab bearing the image of a cross on Sir Bani Yas Island. According to researchers, the discovery could reshape modern views on the spread of Christianity in the region, reports Daily Mail.
The slab depicts a stepped pyramid symbolizing Golgotha, with leaves at its base. The artifact was unearthed during the exploration of an ancient church and monastery, confirming the presence of a Christian community on the island in the 7th–8th centuries.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism, called the find “a compelling testament to the UAE’s deep and enduring values of coexistence and cultural openness,” adding that it highlights the long history of peaceful religious diversity in the region.
Until now, scholars believed Christianity in the Middle East was concentrated mainly in Mesopotamia, the Levant, and Europe. This discovery, however, shows that in the Persian Gulf, Christian and Islamic traditions could have coexisted alongside pagan practices.
