Poland in Saudi Arabia

The work is carried out by an Omani-Polish project "The development of settlement in the mountains of northern Oman in the Bronze and Iron Ages” headed jointly by Prof. Piotr Bieliński from the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw (PCMA UW) and
Dr. Sultan al-Bakri, Director General of Antiquities at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) of the Sultanate of Oman. It investigates the development and forms of settlement in one of the least studied corners of Oman: the mountain valleys of the Northern Hajar range.

In the current season, settlements from the Umm an-Nar phase of the Bronze Age and Iron Age II situated near the village of Ayn Bani Saidah were the main focus of the team’s work. – Ayn Bani Saidah is strategically located at a junction of routes connecting Bat in the south, Buraimi and
Al-Ayn in the north, and the sea coast near Sohar in the east. Along this route there are some major sites from the Umm an-Nar period. So we hoped that also our site will be in the same league, – explains Prof. Bieliński.

The research area, the Qumayrah micro-region, is a mountain valley stretching from Bilt in the north-east to Ayn Bani Saidah in the south-west. During initial investigations, conducted since 2015, the valley proved to be very rich in archaeological remains from at least five different archaeological periods. Archaeologists also documented the ruins of a Late Islamic-period village standing on top of earlier remains. – This abundance of settlement traces proves that this valley was an important spot in Oman’s prehistory, – says Prof. Bieliński.

 

Text and photos: Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archeology of the University of Warsaw

Photo: Cleaning the walls of the building from the Umm an-Nar period (photo: J. Śliwa / CAŚ UW)

 

Read more about recent discoveries of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archeology in Oman in attachment.