- Address: Mohammed Bin Khalifa St, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Contact phone: +971 2 666 4442
- Website: abudhabi.ae
- Ticket price: free of charge
- Opening hours: daily from 16.30 to 21.30
Healy Archaeological Park is a unique historical place in the Abu Dhabi area and an excellent option for leisure of families with children, as here everything is necessary for different ages - playgrounds, picnic places, cafes, alleys and roller tracks.
History of the park
In the 60-ies. XX century in the village of Healy began archaeological excavations. The remains of an ancient settlement and tombs dating from the Bronze Age (3 thousand years BC) were investigated by archaeologists around the world. After this, the government of Abu Dhabi decided to make these artifacts available to tourists. So the Healy Archaeological Park was created, in which everyone can get acquainted for free with the early historical era of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and at the same time relax from the heat in a shady park.
What is interesting about Healy Park?
The park is located in the village of Healy, 12 km north of El Ain , near the highway to Dubai . It is a fairly large territory with lush vegetation, cozy alleys with benches for rest , a fountain and entertainment for visitors. So, for example, for children in the park Healy 2 large playgrounds with attractions are open. In the evening, the atmosphere in the park is nicely supplemented by the lighting.
The greatest interest in the Archaeological Park of Healy is the tower-tomb, built several millennia before the onset of our era. Most of the buildings that have survived to this day belong to the Umm Al Nahr period (2700-2000 BC).
On the territory of the park there are 3 Bronze Age towers, around which are located smaller tombs and the ruins of some settlements related to the Iron Age.
Visitors are allowed to inspect inside only two towers:
- The Great Hili Tomb. It is the most famous in the park, it was discovered by archaeologists in 1974. It is located in the heart of Healy. This is an outstanding architectural monument, because according to historians' calculations, the tomb's age is almost 4 thousand years, which makes it even older than the famous Cheops pyramid. A large tomb of Healy round shape, a radius of 6 m and a height of 2.5 m. Outside there are 2 windows for the entrance, above which are engraved images of people and antelopes. Inside the tomb you will see 6 funerary rooms, in which archaeologists have found the remains of 6 hundred buried people, among which many children. The large tomb of Healy was recently restored, visitors to it have been allowed since 2005.
- The second tomb . It is slightly smaller in size (7 m in diameter), includes 4 funerary rooms with preserved remains of burials. Access to the inside of this tomb is also open since 2005.
Among the artifacts found during the excavations in the Healy Park were:
- pottery, copper products and vessels - they confirm that in ancient times these territories were at the intersection of important trade routes;
- products for agriculture and the system of irrigation "Falaj" - are evidence of cultivation in the area of date palms already in the period of 3 thousand years BC.
After exploring the Healy Archaeological Park, you can relax in the family fun park Hili Fun City, where there are picnic places and even a skating rink.
How to get there?
You can get to Healy Archaeological Park by motorway from the center of El Ain in the direction to Dubai. You need to go to the village of Healy (12 km).