Oman, Italy showcase shared heritage through archaeology

MUSCAT: The National Museum, represented by its Learning Centre and in cooperation with the Embassy of the Italian Republic in Muscat, on Sunday organised an event titled 'Italy and Oman: Promoting Tourism and Cultural Identity through Archaeology', highlighting the role of archaeology in preserving cultural identity, strengthening bilateral cooperation and supporting sustainable tourism.
Held under the auspices of Jamal bin Hassan Al Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, the event brought together archaeologists, tourism specialists, academics, students and cultural enthusiasts to exchange ideas on heritage preservation and archaeological collaboration between Oman and Italy.
Opening the conference, Pierluigi D’Elia, Ambassador of Italy to Oman, praised the longstanding cooperation between Italian and Omani archaeologists, noting that academic and archaeological collaboration between the two countries dates back nearly half a century, with continued support from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Embassy of Italy.
Dr Fatma al Balushi, Adviser to the Secretary-General for Museum Affairs at the National Museum, highlighted the museum’s efforts in showcasing the work of Italian archaeological missions in Oman through exhibitions, lectures and joint cultural initiatives, underlining the value of such partnerships in preserving and promoting Omani heritage regionally and internationally.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of findings from the Al Taykha archaeological site in Wilayat of Al Rustaq by Prof Sara Pizzimenti, Associate Professor of Archaeology at the University of Pisa, Italian Republic, and Prof Khalid Douglas, Professor of Archaeology at Sultan Qaboos University.
The site, one of the largest known settlements of the Umm an Nar culture, spans more than 70 hectares and dates back to the third millennium BCE. Excavations have uncovered residential structures, circular tombs and massive towers measuring around 20 metres in diameter, alongside evidence of copper production and trade links with Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley civilisation, highlighting Oman’s significance as an early centre of trade and civilisation.
Speaking to Observer, Prof Sara said the team recognised Al Taykha’s significance early on because of the site’s scale and visible archaeological features, but it was the discovery of three stamp seals during excavations at one of its key structures that confirmed its extraordinary importance.
“When we started uncovering the stamp seals - not just one, but three - it became clear to us that we were in front of something really important and extraordinary,” she said, noting that the finds point to an administrative role that underlines the settlement’s historical prominence.