MUSCAT: The National Museum organised a symposium titled 'Oman: The Paradise of Archaeologist' under the auspices of Eng Ibrahim bin Said al Kharousi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Heritage, in Muscat on Tuesday
The symposium, which coincides with activities of the fourth edition of the French Week, aimed at highlighting the most prominent discoveries made by the French-Omani research teams, as well as reviewing the relevant scientific publications and museum's activities. Further, the symposium discussed the development of research and the need to preserve the archaeological sites and discoveries.
The symposium included 6 working papers with the participation of a group of academics and researchers from the Sultanate of Oman and abroad. The first working paper touched on the Historical Atlas of the Ancient Near East presented by Martin Savage, an archaeologist and engineer at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, co-director of the French Archaeological Mission in Central Oman (FAMCO).
The second working paper dealt with the Omani-French cooperation in the archaeological research in the Sultanate of Oman. It was presented by Salim al Hajri, Assistant Director-General of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
The third working paper dealt with the work of the French archaeological mission in central Oman: a new research in the Besia region” by Mathilde Jean, archaeologist and ceramicist, FAMCO Co-Director.
The fourth paper was titled The Archaeological Expedition of Khor Grama: Towards the Discovery of a New Prehistoric Culture in Oman, delivered by Christophe Sevan Alloy, Archaeologist and Deputy Director of the International Design Bureau Epha (responsible for developing projects in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
The fifth paper titled 'From Majan to the Kingdom of Oman "3rd century BC - 3rd century CE' was presented by Munir Arbash, writer and historian researcher at the National Centre for Scientific Research specialising in the ancient south of the Arabian Peninsula.
The symposium concluded with a working paper on 'Efforts of the Sultanate of Oman to reduce the risks of natural disasters on heritage sites: Cyclone Shaheen as a case study' was presented by Nada al Shukaili, Head of the Risks and Crises Department at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
Eng Ibrahim bin Said al Kharousi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Heritage, said, "The Omani-French cooperation in archaeological research in the Sultanate of Oman goes back more than four decades, whether in the field of archaeological excavations and surveys or the exchange of experiences, building national capacities and transferring knowledge in restoration of archaeological artefacts. Excavations in the field of archaeological studies began in 1980 in Sohar Castle, followed by more than 12 archaeological missions in Ras Al Hadd, Ras Al Jinz, Khor Gramma, Al Aarid, Adam, Hasik and others.
Veronique Aulagnon, French Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, said: "This event, which brought together French and Omani archaeologists, has allowed to show the archaeological and heritage of the Sultanate of Oman and the level of the excellent cooperation between French and Omani researchers. The archaeological sites in the Sultanate of Oman are magnificent, and they receive thousands of French tourists annually".
The ambassador added, "The National Museum is considered to be one of the beautiful and significant cultural foundations in the Sultanate of Oman. It is a pleasure and an honour for the French Embassy to be able to strengthen its partnership with this emblematic place".
Jamal bin Hassan al Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, pointed out that throughout its geography, the Sultanate of Oman is rich in important historical sites that made it a fertile environment for archaeologists to research and explore.
He added that hosting the symposium, coinciding with the fourth edition of the French week, is a good opportunity to shed light on various research and scientific aspects resulting from the efforts of the French archaeological missions in the Sultanate of Oman. We hope that the topics discussed by the experts participating in the symposium would be a significant reference for those who have an interest and a motivation to continue the efforts in this field. — ONA
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