Discover Arabian tales from UAE’s oldest vase at Louvre

abu dhabi — The oldest, complete vase discovered in the UAE is on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi — and an expert will be sharing on Wednesday how this vessel paints a picture of what life was like in the region thousands of years ago.

The UAE’s Marawah Vase — dated around 5500 BCE — is part of the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s ‘Roads of Arabia: Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia’ exhibition, which explores the rich history of the Arabian Peninsula through archaeological and cultural artefacts.

In a lecture to be held at the museum’s auditorium at 6pm on Wednesday, Dr Mark Jonathan Beech, head of archaeology of Al Dhafra and Abu Dhabi at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, will be tracing the journey of the vase that was unearthed in one of the UAE’s oldest villages.

Dr Beech will tell the story of how a vase made in Southern Mesopotamia (now Iraq) was brought to the Arabian Gulf about 8,000 years ago. He will also talk about how the Marawah was used, along with the life and trade in the region during those times.

The Roads of Arabia exhibition, which has previously toured cities around the world, is set to close on February 16. Louvre visitors can book a 60-minute guided exhibition tour that starts daily at 3pm and costs Dh52.20 per person.

Entrance to Dr Beech’s lecture is free.

For more information, visit www.louvreabudhabi.ae or call Louvre Abu Dhabi at +971 600 56 55 66.

8,000 Years ago was when the vase was traded in the Arabian Gulf