This tomb was diNCOvcied in 199K by the locisl archaeological team of the Directorate of Antiquities in Sharjah, .AinongM the Umin an-.N'artombs that have f>ccn dtscoiercd thus far. it is archiicciurally disiiiKiive. both
Ill terms of ire imcmal divisions and by vinue of its i/c. It is 13.85 rn in diameter, and only one oilier tomb (in Ra*s al-Kluimah) sliginl) excccils iliis si/c. 'Die foundalmn ring was found almost intact and was made up of unworked blocks of stone with a widUi of I m (fig. 25|. 'IIk* outer ring wall was erected directly abiwc the foundation ring and was set hack frtmi it some 30 cm. The tomb is faced with wcII-maM.>ned. rectangular shafv limestone ashlars, st'ine of which were found stamhng m siin to a height of two or three successive courses (fig. 26).
Access to the tomb was via the norihcni side as indicated by an ashlar with relief dccorali«m and nearby fallen stones which had been shaped especially for use as a dixirway. 1‘hc entrance gives direct access to a corridor measuring 5 m x 2 m which in turn leads directly to two unit. s separated by a w all running iKirth-souih in die centre of the tomb. This joins the outer ring w all, thus dividing the ifUcrnal chamber equally into western aiul ea. stcni unit-s. fiach of these units consists of four corbelled burial chambers.
With the exception of the main imenial wall, all of ilie other internal walls ended ca. 70-80 cm from the internal ring w all. thus allow mg (>as wge from «.ine buna! chamlKr to the other. 'Hie floors of ihese chambers were p;ived w iih stone blocks ordifferem sizes, over w Inch very large Slone slabs were bid Some of these slabs can still he seen in.itu (fig. 27).
The miiluple burial chambers have obviously been cleaned out and destroyed by grave robbers w ho inflicted considerable damage on the skeletons. Only the iiorthcioi chamber contained skeletal remains, albeit heavily disturbed. However, six skulls were observed, all adult.
Fi. K - T'nini tm-Sur utmh nith rft limrMonf athhri in mUi.
Fii:- Thr ft»utu/iitu>n rinc ofijnm tin - Vur tomb tu MItiha.
Fik. 2S. The ashlan w ith rritff drcttrutum hrlovi tlur rturum i*.
A necklace of shell beads was found in assinriation with ann hones. A number of pollen vessels were also found.
Orpanicularinieresiisan ashlar block which comprised part of ihe outer wall of ihe tomb. 'This piece hears relief decoration in the form of a bell-like shape on Ihe right and four projecting ballson the left i fig. 28). The presence of this decorated ashlar just below the entrance might ha e ritual significance.
Among the large number of L'lmn an-Nar tombs e. xcavated so far. onlv finir were found associated with
Reliefs. These include two on L'mm an-Nar Island; one at Hiti; and one in Ra’s-at-Khaimah. The Mleiha tomb is thus the 5 ’ to contain a relief decoration.
Another interesting feature of the Umm an-Nar tomb at. Mleiha is a stone piece which was found just beside the outer ring on the northeastern side tfig. 29). In fact, wc have no clue to either its functions or its original hvalion; Could it have been u gutter for draining water from the rtxif? Or could it have been a libation structure, w hich might have hud a nlual function?
Fig. JV. A largr tonr pine t tiufter? f lying ttututle the outer rtng of the umth.
Fn(. 27. TJtr ft/xtr of Ctmn tm-S'ur unnh t% ith m >ilu.
Hft - JO - Crntn an-S'ur ptilltts Jnmi tht UlcUtu totnh
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