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Falaj al-Qaswat is one of the most distinctive cultural heritage landmarks in the Wilayat of Izki, Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate, representing a unique model of the sustainability of traditional water systems in the Sultanate of Oman. This falaj belongs to the ‘Addi type, which relies on the natural flow of water from deep groundwater reservoirs without the use of pumps. It extends for approximately 6.4 kilometers between the villages of Siddi and Harat al- Raha. Historical sources document its origin more than a thousand years ago; it is mentioned in Bayan al-Shar’ by Shaykh Mohammed ibn Ibrahim al-Kindi (5th century AH), and is also referenced in a rare manuscript written in the hand of Imam Nasir bin Murshid al-Ya‘rubi (17th century), conferring upon it well-documented historical significance within Oman’s water heritage. The engineering of the falaj is characterized by the precision of excavation and lining to ensure continuous flow. Its water salinity measures approximately 182 parts per million at a pH of 8.7, with an average discharge of about 17 liters per second. The irrigation system is managed through a precise traditional method known as al-Muhadara, which is based on dividing time into units called al-Athar, currently regulated using modern hours. The study aimed to document its hydrological, architectural, and social characteristics. It included an exploration of the falaj’s source Umm al-Falaj, its main channel Shari‘at al-Falaj, and the farms it irrigates, in addition to examining the Gharraq Falah system and analyzing traditional water distribution methods. The study concluded that Falaj al- Qaswat enjoys remarkable hydrological stability and that its efficiency in water distribution remains high due to regular maintenance and inherited traditional management. Findings demonstrated that the falaj plays an effective role in supporting sustainable agriculture and biodiversity. Recommendations include continued documentation of traditional knowledge, strengthening preventive maintenance programs using materials compatible with the original structural fabric, and scientific research to assess the impact of climate change on water resources.

Old settlements (harat) are considered among the most significant urban features in Oman, as they embody the ingenuity of the Omani people, their architectural and engineering capabilities, and their construction skills. These settlements are known for their distinctive structural characteristics and strategic locations. The settlement of Sital, located in Wadi Bani Kharous in the Wilayat of Al-Awabi, represents one of the ancient Omani settlements; notably, it comprises smaller sub-settlements that fall within the boundaries of the larger settlement. The settlement is distinguished by its strategic location, as it is situated on elevated ground overlooking the wadi, specifically in the southeastern section. This position rendered it a safe area, protected from the destructive flash floods that occur intermittently in Wadi Bani Kharous. It also withstood numerous attacks during certain phases of its history. The settlement encompassed various aspects of social, cultural, economic, administrative, and military life, and it underwent different stages of development over time. The study comprises several sections in addition to the introduction, conclusion, and appendices. The first section introduces Sital and its geographical location, as well as the concept of the Omani settlement and the location of Sital Settlement in particular. The second section presents a map of Sital Settlement and its components, including the smaller sub-settlements, their roads and branches, the types of houses and their architectural design, and the falaj water channel and its course. The third section discusses social and cultural activities and the buildings associated with them, such as the Qur’anic school, the modern school, the sablah, the Eid prayer space, and the location of the cemetery. The fourth section addresses economic activity within the settlement, including the location of the market and the nature of commercial movement.

This study examines the distribution and function of ritual sites across the Oman Peninsula during the Iron Age. Spatial analysis reveals concentrations of cultic activity in specific topographical settings, such as mountain summits and wadi heads. Functional analysis of associated material culture suggests complex social rituals involving animal sacrifice and communal feasting.

Since 2019, the University of Naples archaeological project at Wadi Bani Khalid is conducting archaeological research as well as performing conservation and valorisation strategies for the fruition of the main Iron Age settlement of WBK1. From the archaeological point of view, this contribution intents to highlight the main scientific results related to the chronology of the Early to Late Iron Age settlements in Wadi Bani Khalid (WBK1 and fort WBK49) and the definition of the related material culture, from the EIA to the LIA, to better understand the role of such a rich landscape within the eastern Arabia Iron Age. Furthermore, from the conservation and valorisation point of view, this contribution intents to introduce first buildings’ conservation strategies and the definition of fruition pathways in WBK1, as well as the planning of a digital apparatus (virtual museum and gaming platform) for the dissemination of the scientific results.

The DExPO Project (Dolphin Exploitation in Prehistoric Oman), conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the Natural History Museum of Oman, investigates the role of cetaceans within the coastal economies of southeastern Arabia from the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. This paper presents the results of a study on the marine mammal assemblages from Ras al-Hadd (HD-1, HD-2, HD-5) and Ras al-Jinz (RJ-2, RJ-3). Dolphin bones form a substantial yet understudied part of the faunal record. Over 570 diagnostic elements—mainly vertebrae, cranial, and flipper bones—were recorded using a dedicated analytical protocol for cetacean remains in the region. The identification of skeletal elements and species was aided by modern reference materials at the NHM Oman. Anatomical, biogeographic, and taphonomic factors complicate identification, so the adopted protocol integrates a suite of bone measurements statistically discriminating between species. Additionally, taphonomic marks such as traces of combustion and butchery were documented. The integrated analytical results support the hypothesis of a selective targeting of small-sized delphinids, likely Stenella spp., indicating that dolphin procurement was not opportunistic but structured and recurrent. These practices appear to have been seasonally patterned and closely linked to the ecological dynamics of lagoonal and open-sea environments. Moreover, evidence suggests dolphin remains were systematically used in fire production. This research highlights the emergence of specialised maritime economies and strategic exploitation across diverse coastal environments.

Shifting the focus from the well-studied coast to the inland piedmont opens a new chapter in understanding the Neolithic of South Arabia. The HERDS in Oman Project at the site of KHS-A, near al-Khashbah, offers a rare opportunity to view Neolithic lifeways from an inland perspective... [Texte intégral respecté]

The Omani Peninsula is among the richest regions of the Arabian Peninsula in terms of the diversity and chronological range of its rock art scenes. Numerous engravings and carvings are spread throughout the region, many of which remain undocumented due to the ongoing discovery of new sites. These scenes vividly reflect the life of ancient Omani communities in its religious, social, economic, and symbolic dimensions. Among the most significant themes represented in the region’s rock art are scenes of animal riding, where humans are depicted mounted on camels, horses, and donkeys. These images embody multiple meanings related to transportation, travel, hunting, and ceremonial practices, in addition to serving as symbols of power, bravery, and social status. This study aims to analyze scenes of animal riding in the rock art of the Omani Peninsula through a descriptive and analytical approach, seeking to uncover the purposes, functions, and meanings embedded within these depictions. It also explores the symbolic relationship between humans and animals and its role in shaping the visual identity of early Omani society. The significance of this study lies in highlighting rock art as a reliable visual record documenting ancient human life and contributing to the reinterpretation of Oman’s cultural heritage. Furthermore, rock art represents a cultural and touristic resource that can be employed to promote heritage tourism and strengthen national cultural awareness. The research methodology adopts a descriptive–analytical framework, focusing on identifying and interpreting rock art scenes related to animal riding, while comparing their stylistic, thematic, and symbolic dimensions. The study is structured around four main axes: 1) Rock art in the Omani Peninsula: origins, types, and artistic styles; 2) Depictions of camel riding in Omani rock art; 3) Depictions of horse riding and their symbolic and social implications; 4) Artistic and symbolic analysis of animal-riding scenes. The expected outcomes include: 1) Documenting the diverse uses of animals in ancient daily life; 2) Revealing the evolution of artistic and aesthetic awareness among ancient Omanis; 3) Affirming that rock art serves as a living, multidimensional cultural document linking humans with their environment, history, and identity.

The Neolithic development of Oman represents a pivotal stage in Arabian prehistory, marked by shifts in mobility, subsistence, and landscape exploitation... [cite: 4]

The Wādī Sūq period (c. 2000 – 1600 BCE) is characterised by a decrease in sedentary sites in inland regions and in variegated burial shapes compared to the preceding Umm an-Nar period (c. 2700 – 2000 BCE). One of the factors causing this cultural shift is the aridification of the 4.2 ka event. However, the scarcity of Wādī Sūq sites with radiocarbon dates in central Oman prevents us from understanding human activity and its diachronic change during this period. One of the potential sites resolving this issue is the cave of Mugharat al-Kahf, the Wādī Tanūf, the Ad-Dākhilīyah, Oman, with previous excavations yielding the Wādī Sūq pottery, stone vessels, and the charred date stones whose radiocarbon dates ranged between 2000 – 1500 calBCE (Miki et al. 2020, 2022). To acquire further evidence of human activity in this cave during the Wādī Sūq period, we excavated a new test pit (TP4), and this paper reports our findings and results of the radiocarbon measurements. New radiocarbon measurements on the charcoal samples revealed a sequence of human activity involving the use of fire, spanning from 1900 to 1600 calBCE. In addition, we discovered a well-preserved ceramic vessel placed upright near a large rock in front of the neighbouring rock shelter. These new findings confirm repeated use of the cave during the Wādī Sūq period, providing a refined chronology for this period in inland Oman.

Since 2008, the Arabian Human Social Dynamics (AHSD) and Ancient Socioecological systems in Oman (ASOM) projects have been investigating the relationship between the construction of small-scale stone monuments, evidence of human settlement, and the long-term socio-ecological dynamics of past pastoral ecosystems in Southern Arabia. These are archaeological cultures with few material remains, strongly suggestive of sustained mobility and organic, perishable toolkits and crafts. A spectacular find, such as the accessories of Ötzi the Iceman or the Urumqi mummies of the Tarim basin, can draw public attention and archaeological focus to such communities, but for the most part, the lifestyles, identities, and beliefs of Bedouin cultures of Arabia and the Sahara leave few permanent traces. It has been easy to think theirs a timeless lifestyle, what Eric Wolf famously pilloried as “People without History.” Leaving aside for the moment the new discovery that the alphabetic Dhofar script can now be read and may indeed offer history in emic terms, our paper offers a second avenue to history for the Dhofar pastoralists. Recent archaeological work has established that settlements in the Dhofar escarpment and coastal plain are the encampments of mobile pastoralists without dependence on crop agriculture and products. What has been less clear is the chronology of this settlement pattern, recently tied to the Late Iron Age (300 BCE-300 CE). Our paper reports new radiocarbon assays from archaeological survey and test excavations that complement published radiocarbon dates from highland Dhofar sites, Halqoot and Shakeel. We offer a Bayesian analysis to provide chronological refinement of the crude “history” provided by unconstrained calibrations, and link settlement histories to other published datasets from Dhofar.

The site of Al Tikha is located on the eastern slopes of the Al Hajar Mountains, between Wadi Sahtan and Wadi al-Ghashab, approximately 42 km southwest of the Batinah coast and north of the modern city of Rustaq. First identified during the Rustaq-Batinah Archaeological Survey, it preserves evidence of occupation from the Umm an- Nar and Iron Age periods. Between 2022 and 2026, the Omani-Italian Archaeological Expedition — a joint project between the University of Pisa and Sultan Qaboos University, under the supervision of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism — carried out five field seasons aimed at investigating the settlement sequence and organization of the site. The 2026 campaign continued the excavation of the Umm an-Nar towers, the copper workshop area, and the associated settlement sectors, with the goal of achieving a more comprehensive understanding of architectural development, craft production, and spatial organization within the community. After five years, the results provide an increasingly detailed picture of the site’s internal layout, phases of occupation, and its role within the settlement dynamics of inland South Al Batinah during the 3rd millennium BCE.

This study aims to reveal the extent of Omani university students’ awareness of the cultural heritage of Omani ports during the Islamic era, and to examine their perceptions of the role of these ports in the commercial, cultural, and scientific exchange between Oman and the Islamic world. To achieve this, the study sample was selected using convenience random sampling, comprising (500) male and female students from five Omani universities. The study employed a descriptive-analytical approach, and data were collected using an awareness scale consisting of (4) axes followed by (40) items, after ensuring the necessary validity and reliability. The results of this study revealed that the overall average across all axes was high, and that many students are aware of the historical and commercial importance of Omani ports. However, only a limited percentage possess detailed knowledge of the cultural and civilizational role that these ports played during the Islamic era. The study also revealed a need to enhance academic and societal awareness of the Sultanate of Oman’s maritime heritage through university curricula, cultural programs, and research activities. This aligns with the higher education objectives in Oman, which aim to foster a deeper understanding of the role of maritime ports in Omani civilization. The study recommends integrating topics related to maritime heritage and historical ports into university curricula and encouraging students to conduct field studies at historical coastal sites. This will contribute to strengthening national and cultural identity and deepening understanding of the Sultanate of Oman’s pioneering role in Islamic history.