Skip to main content Live Science Live Science Search Live Science View Profile Sign up to our newsletter Planet Earth Archaeology Physics & Math Human Behavior Science news Life's Little Mysteries Science quizzes Newsletters Story archive Knight's tomb under ice cream shop Solar cells powered by indoor light Wireless power breakthrough Where to see the 'blood moon' 5 common wildlife photographer mistakes Recommended reading Archaeology Archaeology student finds rare ninth-century gold 'within the first 90 minutes' of her first excavation 1,000-year-old Viking Age hoard has a pendant that may be a cross or Thor's hammer Archaeology Thousands of leather shoes, bags and sword scabbards discovered during dig in medieval harbor in Norway Ancient Egyptians 4,000-year-old handprint discovered on ancient Egyptian tomb offering 'Puzzling' bronze discs adorned with lion heads discovered in Roman-era grave Archaeology 1,300-year-old skeletons found in England had grandparents from sub-Saharan Africa, DNA studies reveal Archaeology We know humans arose in Africa, but archaeology is only just uncovering secrets of the continent's early civilizations Archaeology 'We never had concrete proof': Archaeologists discover Christian cross in Abu Dhabi, proving 1,400-year-old site was a monastery Kristina Killgrove 22 August 2025 The discovery of a Christian cross proves that eighth-century houses found in the United Arab Emirates were part of a monastery. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. A stucco cross was discovered at a 1,400-year-old monastery in the United Arab Emirates. (Image credit: Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi) Archaeologists have uncovered a complete plaster cross dating to 1,400 years ago during an excavation in the United Arab Emirates. The Christian symbol finally proves that a series of houses discovered decades ago were part of a monastery. "This is a very exciting time for us," Maria Gajewska, an archaeologist at the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi, said in a video. "We never had concrete proof [the houses] were inhabited by Christians." Nine small courtyard houses were excavated in 1992 on Sir Bani Yas, an island 110 miles (170 kilometers) southwest of Abu Dhabi. Nearby, archaeologists found a church and monastery dating to the seventh and eighth centuries A.D. But it was unclear whether the houses were related to the monastic settlement. You may like Archaeology student finds rare ninth-century gold 'within the first 90 minutes' of her first excavation 1,000-year-old Viking Age hoard has a pendant that may be a cross or Thor's hammer Thousands of leather shoes, bags and sword scabbards discovered during dig in medieval harbor in Norway This year, archaeologists returned to Sir Bani Yas for further excavation. In the courtyard of one house, they found a stucco plaque in the shape of a Christian cross measuring nearly 1 foot (30 centimeters) long. With that cross, "we have now proved these houses were part of a Christian settlement," Gajewska said. Senior monks probably lived in the houses, secluding themselves and praying, before reconvening at the monastery with their brethren, she said. Related: 1,800-year-old silver amulet could rewrite history of Christianity in the early Roman Empire Sir Bani Yas was just one location of Christian worship in the region during this time period, according to a translated statement from the Abu Dhabi Media Office. Christianity spread around the Arabian Gulf between the fourth and sixth centuries before the rise of Islam starting in the seventh century. Muslims and Christians lived on Sir Bani Yas until the monastery was abandoned in the eighth century. Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. RELATED STORIES —'Absolutely outstanding' 12-century picture stone unearthed in Germany likely depicts bishop who brought Christianity to region —Early-medieval stash of 'devil's money' found at cult site in the Netherlands —Shroud of Turin wasn't laid on Jesus' body, but rather a sculpture, modeling study suggests The new excavation "helps us better understand the nature of life and the relationships that connected the inhabitants of the island with the surrounding regions," Hager Hasan Almenhali, an archaeologist at the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi, said in the video. Archaeologists plan to continue their work on the courtyard houses. The Sir Bani Yas church and monastery site is open to the public. What do you know about Jesus Christ, the man? Test your knowledge of biblical archaeology Kristina Killgrove Staff writer Kristina Killgrove is a staff writer at Live Science with a focus on archaeology and paleoanthropology news. Her articles have also appeared in venues such as Forbes, Smithsonian, and Mental Floss. Kristina holds a Ph.D. in biological anthropology and an M.A. in classical archaeology from the University of North Carolina, as well as a B.A. in Latin from the University of Virginia, and she was formerly a university professor and researcher. She has received awards from the Society for American Archaeology and the American Anthropological Association for her science writing. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Archaeology student finds rare ninth-century gold 'within the first 90 minutes' of her first excavation 1,000-year-old Viking Age hoard has a pendant that may be a cross or Thor's hammer Thousands of leather shoes, bags and sword scabbards discovered during dig in medieval harbor in Norway 4,000-year-old handprint discovered on ancient Egyptian tomb offering 'Puzzling' bronze discs adorned with lion heads discovered in Roman-era grave 1,300-year-old skeletons found in England had grandparents from sub-Saharan Africa, DNA studies reveal Latest in Archaeology The first Americans had Denisovan DNA. And it may have helped them survive. 6,300 years ago, dozens of people were murdered in grisly victory celebrations in France Gene that differs between humans and Neanderthals could shed light on the species' disappearance, mouse study suggests Which Roman emperor ruled the longest? 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