A joint excavation work by the Ministry of Heritage and Sohar Free Zone management team at Sohar Port area has unearthed tombs dating back to 1000BC recently.
The excavation team has unearthed human skulls and bones, horse bones, teeth, pieces of glass pots, gold and silver beads, agate stone, shells, earrings, bronze and iron rings.
The work was carried out in 57 tombs that date back to 1000BC and the beginning of 2000BC during the era of Wadi Al Shouq of the Iron Era (2000/300 BC).
Biubwa Ali Al Sabri, the director of excavation and archaeological studies at Ministry of Heritage and Culture, said that the findings will help us a lot to understand more about the cultural history.
The site
“The site is part of a group of archaeological tombs that date back to 2000BC. Some tombs face the north and south and were built on the surface, and some of them are distinguished by the existence of two or three burial chambers, in addition to the existence of external walls of two lines of blocks, in addition to an internal wall of the burial chamber,” she said.
The excavation team found bones, one of them of a man and another of a horse. This tomb was called ‘Knight and Horse Tomb’.
“Understanding the importance of preserving and maintaining the Sultanate’s rich cultural heritage, the ministry paid special attention while the excavation works was carried out. We took special care in handling the artefacts,” she said.
The findings will be documented with the help of advanced technology. Sultan Qaboos University is preparing a detailed report about the findings.
“The archaeological site was divided into several areas, namely, A, B, C, D and E because of the spread of these tombs on hills and on the banks of the wadi,” she added.
The industrial community in Sohar region sponsored the projects, which aims to protect the valuable heritage in the region and develop and support archaeological and osteological skills of Omani archaeologists.
The finance was provided for excavation in A, C and E areas and preserving the areas B and D because the archaeological signs in these tombs are distinguished by their originality and excellence.
A series of excavation programmes were done between October and November 2010 by a national team of five archaeologists from the ministry, two surveyors from the Sultan Qaboos University and a bone expert from Sweden.
Graves
Omani school students also participated in a number of excavation works. The school students were trained by the Swedish specialist on various methods of surveying and on how to deal with archaeological findings.
Until now, about 130 graves have been discovered in the free zone area. The graves date roughly to 3,000-5,000 years back, and belong to the Wadi Souq period.
During this period, cities started to develop in Mesopotamia, and the Sohar region started to produce and trade copper.
Free zone Sohar encompasses an overall area of 4,500 hectares, while 500 hectares have been apportioned for the first phase development and that is where 40 of the approximately 130 graves lie.
The excavation of these graves is well coordinated with the development project of the free zone.
The excavations are led by ‘The Sohar Heritage Project’ under the Ministry of Heritage and Culture.
Earlier findings have proved that Sohar was an active commercial centre at that time.
Several surveys and excavations were conducted in the Wilayat of Sohar.
They covered Sohar castle and its surroundings.
These excavations led to finding sites which date back to 1000BC and a settlement which is 1.80 metre above sea level.
Remains of a wall dating to the 1000BC were found giving a hint that the site has continued to grow and prosper.
Traders’ stamps and well manufactured red pottery were found at the site, as well as Chinese porcelain which was discovered in the strata dating back to the first centuries of Islam which has stressed that trading with China continued to develop until the mid of 13th century AD.
The efforts by the ministry will make the ancient sites in the Sohar area more accessible for both local citizens and visitors to the Sohar area.
Source: Times of Oman [December 14, 2010]