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Project VirtuHalban investigates an Early Bronze Age funerary site at Halban, on an elevated coastal terrace where the Al Batinah coastal plain meets the Hajar Al Gharbi mountain ridge. These well-preserved monumental tombs, some reaching heights of over four metres, are significant markers of their era. Research suggests that the Halban tombs may span two distinct periods: the Hafit period (c. 3100-2600 BCE) and the Umm an-Nar period (c. 2600-2100 BCE), indicating a transition in tomb design during the Bronze Age. The project also investigates building techniques and materials employed in tomb construction, potentially having cultural or chronological significance. Excavation of tomb HAL021 during the 2023 season yielded valuable insights into its contents, including small beads and human remains, providing potential clues about the people buried in the tomb and their cultural practices. To enhance documentation, the researchers used 3D/virtual recording techniques, allowing for precise spatial mapping and the creation of 3D models and panoramas.
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The site of Halban, located 35 km to the west of the capital city Muscat (Sultanate of Oman), was first mentioned in 1998. The site comprises 33 well-preserved monumental stone funerary structures situated on a limestone terrace between the Al-Batinah coastal plain and the Al-Hajar Al-Gharbi mountains. Most of these tombs date back to the 3rd millennium BCE and are characterized by their substantial diameter, considerable remaining height, and noticeable variability in construction techniques and external polishing. This contribu- tion presents the preliminary results of the excavations carried out in 2023 and 2024, which reveal a complex palimpsest of continuity and reuse at a strategic location. This position enabled the connection of inland oases with coastal communities and allowed for the interception of major short- and long-distance trade routes during the 3rd millennium BCE.
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