AL SEEB: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has commenced rescue excavation works in Al Maabela, Wilayat of Al Seeb, covering 25 archaeological tombs.
These operations are part of the preparatory works related to housing projects and residential layouts in the area. This excavation comes within the ministry's efforts to protect and preserve archaeological heritage and to handle sites affected by urban expansion according to a specialised scientific methodology.
In conjunction with the excavation, the ministry is implementing a training programme in cooperation with Sultan Qaboos University, the University of Nizwa, and the Historical Association of Oman.
A specialised workshop is being held at the Historical Association of Oman building, covering several fundamental aspects of archaeological surveys and excavations. A number of academics from the archaeology departments of the participating universities, alongside specialists from the ministry, are presenting the workshop's themes, contributing to the development of professional capabilities and the exchange of expertise in this field.
Eng Ali bin Hamoud al Mahrouqi, Director of the Department of Archaeological Surveys and Excavations at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, explained that the rescue excavation works in Al Maabela, conducted in cooperation with relevant government and private entities, aim to document the site affected by urban encroachment and identify its archaeological components.
This, he added, is intended to facilitate an understanding of the various cultural aspects of the human settlement period and to allow for an exchange of expertise among specialists. He noted that this site was selected because its tombs are listed among archaeological sites threatened by urban expansion and encroachment, in addition to natural factors such as successive flooding caused by climatic conditions.
He emphasised that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has adopted a promotional approach by utilising technology to enable visits to certain available sites, whether through an application accessible to the public or in person. Sites and discoveries are identified via informational panels and Quick Response (QR) codes, through which visitors can understand the details of the location and the artefacts found there.
He stated that the excavation work plan includes photographing and documenting the site, preparing it, and surveying neighbouring areas using scientific methods. It also involves inspecting and documenting anything suspected of being an archaeological witness, as well as preparing and cleaning the tombs to begin the excavation process. Archaeological tomb data is recorded according to the stages of work, in addition to registering discovered artefacts, detailing all data regarding archaeological finds and preserving them in a scientific manner.
The efforts of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism are an extension of the existing cooperation in the field of archaeology in the Sultanate of Oman with local and international universities and scientific institutions, which has continued from the early 1970s to the present day.
Numerous significant archaeological sites dating back to various historical eras have been uncovered. These sites and artefacts serve as prominent tourist destinations, enriching tourism through museums and the establishment of visitor centres in archaeological parks. Furthermore, the outputs of archaeological excavations provide the National Museum and other ministry-affiliated museums with artefacts for participation in local, regional, and international exhibitions and museums. - ONA
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