Adam Castle restoration under way

ADAM: The Ministry of Heritage and Culture is exerting great efforts to preserve features of the Omani architectural heritage with its Arab and Islamic styles, as part of its constant quest to preserve elements of the Omani heritage through its ambitious plan for the restoration of mosques, castles, forts and neighbourhoods in the Sultanate.

The restoration work at Adam Castle in the Wilayat of Adam in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah has reached about 85 per cent and expected to be completed by the mid-year.

Said bin Salim al Jadidi, archeologist at the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, said: “The restoration of Adam Castle began in early 2016 through several stages, the first of which was the cleaning of the site of all the wastes. The components of the castle were almost completely destroyed, especially from the north. Passages were opened to the rest of the castle’s facilities. The foundations of the castle and the surrounding walls were built after that with gravel, sand, cement and clay. The date-palm trunks were used for roofing, as Omanis used them to build roofs of mosques, houses and lanes of neighbourhoods due to their thickness and durability to various conditions.”

The main door of the castle and the other 12 doors of different sizes, in addition to the 13 windows of the rooms and the tower, were manufactured in the workshop of the ministry located in “Al Busaid Neighbourhood Mosque” in the Wilayat of Adam.

He added that the clay used in restoring the castle was brought from the ministry’s factory in the Wilayat of Wadi Al Ma’awel in the Governorate of South Al Batinah, where it was mixed with sand, cement and gravel with the addition of a small amount of white cement. He added that the mixture was put for 21 days in ponds with the addition of Omani hay. This process is called “mud-brick” process.

Al Jadidi explained that the tools used to renovate Adam Castle are traditional tools including date-palm trunks, Olibanum Wood and Oman clay, all under the supervision of specialised Omani craftsmen.

Adam Castle, which was built during the reign of the Ya’aribah in the heart of the wilayat, is an integrated heritage landmark.

It was established to be a seat of government and a residence for the governor and a place to teach the Sharia. It includes several facilities for the governor’s services, such as prisons, guard rooms and stores. It has one gate located in the southwestern part, with two towers, the first is located on the eastern side. It is circular and consists of two floors.

The second tower is located in the northern side. It is circular and consists of three floors.

The Ministry of Heritage and Culture is currently carrying out several works in the Wilayat of Adam, including the restoration of “Al Busaid Neighbourhood Mosque” and Falaj Al Ayn Castle on the western side. In the field of excavation, there are several discoveries found by the ministry in “Jabal Al Madhmar”.

It is a complex of 4 buildings isolated in the desert, built on the edge of “Jabal Al Madhmar.”

THE WORK COMPLETION HAS REACHED ABOUT 85 PER CENT AND EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE MID-YEAR