A joint archaeological team from the University of Warsaw in Poland and oman's Ministry of Heritage and Tourism found the remains of a previously unknown tower in a Bronze Age settlement in Oman, as well as evidence of copper smelting. Archaeologists say this suggests the settlement was involved in Oman's famously lucrative copper trade at the time.
Archaeological excavation site of Ain Barney Sada.
Excavations were reportedly carried out near Ayn Bani Sa'dah in the Kumaira Valley, where archaeologists found the remains of a previously unknown tower inside a Bronze Age settlement, as well as evidence of smelting copper.
The team also reported that many remnants of Iron Age II masonry were found in the "vast area" of the Kumaira Valley. The valley, located in the North Hajar Mountains, is one of the least studied areas in Oman.
The Joint Archaeological Team has been excavating in the Kumaira Valley since 2015 and has unearthed at least five remains from different archaeological periods.
Archaeological excavation site.
For example, the area around Ain Barney Sada alone has traces of the late Neolithic period (4300-4000 BC), the Bronze Age Umm an-Nar period (2600-2000 BC), and the Iron Age II (1100-600 BC) occupied.
Professor Piotr Bieliński, an archaeologist at the University of Warsaw who led the excavations, said the large number of traces of settlement proved that the valley was an important prehistoric site in Oman. Ain Barney Sada is strategically located at the intersection of the route connecting Bat in the south, Buraimi and Al-Ain in the north, and the coast near Sohar in the east. On this route, there are some of the main ruins of the um Anna period.
The team says their latest findings have exceeded their expectations.
Agnieszka Pietńkowska, an archaeologist and Bronze Age expert at the University of Warsaw, said the settlement was special and consisted of at least four towers, three circular and one angular.
One of the round towers is not obvious on the surface, although it is large in size, with a diameter of up to 20 meters. The tower was gradually revealed during excavation.
At the same time, other Bronze Age buildings have unearthed artifacts that provide information about how the site interacted with the local economy.
The archaeological team found evidence of copper processing at the site, as well as some copper artifacts.
Professor Belinsky said the team found evidence of copper processing at the site, as well as some copper artifacts, suggesting that the settlement was involved in Oman's famous and lucrative copper trade at the time.
He explained that Omani copper was mentioned in mesopotamian cuneiform scripts.
Archaeologists plan to continue excavations in the Gumyra Valley later this year, not only near Ain Barney Sada, but also at Blit, at the other end of the valley, where there are more remains from the Um Anna period.
Text/Nandu reporter Chen Lin