Bisya-Salut Visitor Centre showcases 5,000 years of Oman's history

BAHLA: The Bisya and Salut Archaeological Site Visitor Centre in Bahla, Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, is offering researchers and heritage enthusiasts insights into around 5,000 years of human settlement in Oman, highlighting the country's ancient history, trade links and cultural heritage.
The centre showcases archaeological finds from the site, documenting aspects of early human life and the region's commercial connections with ancient civilisations.
Its exhibits introduce visitors to the site's architectural features, including forts, towers, cemeteries and the remains of an ancient village. Artefacts and structures provide insights into life during the Bronze Age, Iron Age and early Islamic period, while demonstrating the construction skills, craftsmanship and water management practices of ancient inhabitants.
Ali bin Saif al Shukaili, Director of the Bisya and Salut Archaeological Site Visitor Centre, said the site's historical and archaeological significance lies in its 5,000-year timeline and the evidence it provides of human settlement.
The discoveries shed light on how communities lived, interacted with their surrounding environment and made use of available natural resources, he said.
Al Shukaili noted that the findings also offer insights into how ancient inhabitants sourced and managed water to meet their daily needs.
Some artefacts point to trade links between the region and areas including India, the Indus Valley region of Sindh, the Levant and Mesopotamia.
These discoveries enable researchers to examine cultural interaction and exchange between Oman and other civilisations of the ancient world, giving the site archaeological and scientific significance beyond its geographical boundaries. — ONA