Muscat – International archaeological missions working across the sultanate have uncovered fresh evidence shedding light on Oman’s early human history, from pre-Early Bronze Age burial traditions in South Batinah to Neolithic settlement patterns in North Sharqiyah.
At the Halban site in South Batinah, an Italian archaeological mission has revealed large burial structures dating back to the pre-Early Bronze Age period. The project, now in its third consecutive season, is being carried out by the University of Bologna in cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
Eugenio Bortolini, head of the Italian mission, said the discoveries confirm the importance of Halban in antiquity. He explained that the funerary area contains around 30 large tombs, pointing to the presence of an organised ancient community.
Artefacts recovered from the site, including pottery and beads, suggest that Halban lay along ancient travel and trade routes. Bortolini noted that the finds indicate links with the Indus Valley, placing the site within a wider network connecting ancient Oman with regions corresponding to present-day Pakistan and the broader Indian Ocean world.
Vittoria Bianchi, an anthropologist at the University of Bologna, said the human remains uncovered at Halban were found in fragmented condition, requiring detailed laboratory analysis. Bone samples are being examined to estimate the age and sex of the individuals, while chemical tests aim to determine whether those buried at the site were local inhabitants or migrants.
Sara Facciani, an archaeologist with the mission, said the team is documenting all phases of the use of the burial structures through detailed topographic surveys. She stressed that precise recording is essential not only for scientific research but also for future conservation and public presentation of the site.
Meanwhile, in North Sharqiyah, a joint American-Czech archaeological mission is investigating Neolithic occupation at the Al Khashaba site in Mudhaibi as part of the Herds in Oman Project.
Dr Lucas Proctor, co-director of the project, said the research seeks to understand how Neolithic communities adapted to life in Oman’s interior. During the second season of fieldwork, the team surveyed surrounding Pleistocene terraces in search of additional sites while continuing excavations at Al Khashaba.
Three excavation trenches have revealed fireplaces and other occupational features dating back to the 5th and 6th millennia BCE. Proctor said the project combines remote sensing techniques with bioarchaeological analysis to study hunting practices, early pastoralism and patterns of repeated site use.
In a related development, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, in cooperation with Japanese archaeological missions from the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, has concluded surveys and excavations at the Wadi Tanuf and Al Ghabra sites in Nizwa. The work led to the discovery of a collection of beads and bone remains, as well as inscriptions in the South Arabian script and rock carvings.
