Archaeological discoveries dating back to the Iron Age in Ibri

A NATIONAL TEAM from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism excavated antiquities in Bilad Al Shahoum in the Wilayat of Ibri and on the Wadi Al Hajar road. The presence of archaeological tombs of various shapes were discovered between the pyramid-shaped or beehive-shaped and Oval tombs.

The external shape of the antiquities were also found similar to Islamic cemeteries to some extent, which were discovered in 2013 during the survey of the road linking Wadi Al Hajar and Bilad Al Shahoum. Last June, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism began excavations in the two mentioned sites.

Mohammad bin Al Murr Al Kalbani, head of the surveys department at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said that the tombs in Bilad Al Shahoum in Ibri are different from the tombs located on the path of the road linking Wadi Al Hajar and Bilad Al Shahoum, and they date back to 300 BC. They are built in the ground, sometimes reaching a depth of two metres, so that the stone ceilings covering the burial chamber begin to appear when descending to a level of 60 or 70 cm underground.

Al Kalbani added that these tombs were used for burial purposes. The tombs included the remains of human bones and the presence of traces of pots made of soapstone, a local stone extracted from the mountains of Oman. They are of various shapes, decorated with circles dotted with geometric shapes, in addition to the presence of some women’s jewellery such as earrings made of bronze and beads of various colours and sizes.

He pointed out to the importance of the site due to the presence of an ancient civilisational link between the trade lines or the commercial caravan crossing that connects the coast with the interior, as the site is located close to the Bat civilisation. the presence of women’s jewellery and the abundance of pottery indicate the existence of ancient commercial relations between civilisations, which confirms the existence of open relations between the Sultanate, Mesopotamia, the civilisation of Sindh and Iran.

As for the tombs of Wadi Al Hajar, they are different in terms of external appearance and are built on the surface. the tomb consists of a pile of stones built in the form of rings that wrap around the burial chamber, which was found in two shapes, one circular in shape and the other longitudinal. This indicates that the tombs are built in two time periods: The third and second millennium BC.

Al Kalbani explained that the national team, consisting of a group of young Omanis from the Department of

Archaeological Surveys and Excavations at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, has proven their presence in such sites, and has benefited from practical and applied experiences in dealing with these places.

Omani youth have proven their ability in excavations in archaeological sites in the various governorates of the Sultanate.