MUSCAT: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MoHT) is implementing a project titled "Dolphins in Prehistoric Oman (DExPO)", aimed at enhancing the understanding of the relationship between humans and the marine environment in the Sultanate of Oman during prehistoric times.
This is achieved through the systematic study and documentation of faunal remains discovered at various archaeological sites. The project is a specialised research initiative in zooarchaeology, focusing on the study of exploitation patterns of both marine and terrestrial mammals by ancient coastal communities. It specifically targets the analysis of archaeological mammal remains at several key sites, including Ras Al Hadd and Ras Al Jinz in the Wilayat of Sur.
The objective is to study the hunting, processing and consumption methods utilised by these societies to secure protein from red meat, while integrating osteological and metric analyses with environmental data and museum comparative collections. This project will contribute to developing knowledge regarding human-sea interactions from the Neolithic period through to the late Iron Age. It highlights the economic and cultural roles played by large mammals in coastal lifestyles, reflecting the depth of the Sultanate of Oman’s maritime and civilisational history. It is noteworthy that the project receives scientific support from several Italian and international institutions, including the University of Bologna, and is funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies (ISMEO), and the Society of Antiquaries of London. — ONA
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