Muscat – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has announced the conclusion of excavation work by a Japanese archaeological mission for the 2025 season at the Unesco world heritage sites of Bat, Al Khutm and Al Ayn near Ibri in Dhahirah.
The mission presented results of the Digital Heritage Inventory Project, which documented 291 newly identified archaeological features. The work included three-dimensional documentation of several tombs and stone markers across the sites.
According to the ministry, excavations led to the discovery of previously undocumented graves dating to the Early Iron Age. These findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of settlement patterns, funerary practices and the use of the surrounding landscape during different historical periods.
The area is known for its 3rd millennium BC Bronze Age necropolis, which includes distinctive beehive-shaped tombs and stone towers that provide evidence of early organised communities and regional trade links, including with ancient Mesopotamia.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to attracting international archaeological missions from specialised universities and research institutions, a policy in place since the 1970s. The first mission to work at Bat was a Danish team, followed by expeditions from Germany, Japan, France and Italy.
