MUSCAT: The National Museum organised an event titled 'Rock Engravings' to explore rock drawings and engravings and its significance in the growth of civilization on Tuesday.
The purpose of the event was to introduce rock drawings and engravings in Oman across the ages. The event was attended by members of the Friends of Oman Museums, students, and individuals interested in rock art and the ancient history of Omani civilization.
The event included a lecture on 'Examples of Rock Drawings in the Sultanate of Oman,' presented by Dr Habib bin Marhoon al Hadi, a senior specialist in history curriculum at the Ministry of Education. The lecture introduced rock drawings found in numerous valleys and mountains in Oman, dating back to ancient times. It showcased examples, explained their meanings, discussed drawing techniques, and highlighted the tools used. The
lecture was followed by a guided tour for participants to explore examples of rock drawings and engravings in the Prehistory and
Ancient History Galleries of the National Museum. Continuing with the event, an art workshop was conducted for drawing and engraving on wood, mimicking the rock drawings and engravings displayed in the in the Prehistory and Ancient History Galleries.
Various techniques in rock art, such as tapping, carving, dotting, cutting, incising, scraping, coloring, and others, were
Rock drawings and engravings have been discovered in numerous valleys and mountains across Oman, spanning various provinces and dating back to prehistoric and ancient eras. Some of the well-known drawings depict human life symbols, animals like oryx, horses, camels, dogs, and elephants, as well as reptiles like scorpions and snakes. In the realm of tools, war-related items such as spears, swords, and shields are highlighted. Symbolic representations in Omani rock art include stars and the sun, among others.
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