Five ancient settlements and cemeteries dating back to the Um Al Nar culture between 2500 to 2000 BC were unearthed in the wilayat of Saham in North Al Batinah.
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| Credit: Times of Oman |
The unearthed sites are located at Dahwi, Wadi Al Sukhn and Al Thaqibah, about 26 km to the west of the wilayat of Saham on the northern plains of Al Hajr Al Gharbi mountains. These are the oldest archaeological sites unearthed in the northern part of the Sultanate. The excavation work started in 2010.
Dr. Khalid Daghlas, Head of Archaeology Department at SQU said the survey and exploration works unearthed a number of potteries and stone works which point out that these sites have close connection with Indus, Mesopotamia and Iran.
This is an evidence that the settlers at these sites were working in copper smelting and trading. He added that the archaeological exploration works unearthed a number of cemeteries that date back to Umm Al Nar era.
This means that they used to bury their dead in group cemeteries built of white sandstone. They used also to place some clay and stone utensils with the deceased.
It should be noted that the archaeological survey and exploration team of SQU alongside with post graduate students continue exploration works at the sites to unearth more archaeological and historical sites and carry out cultural studies.
Source: Times of Oman [January 12, 2018]
