The Prehistoric Potential of the Southern Batinah Region
The “PrehistOman” project started in 2023 in conjunction with the Italian-Omani archaeological mission at the Al-Tikha site (Rustaq, Oman), directed by the colleagues Dr. Khaled Douglas of the Sultan Qaboos University and prof. Sara Pizzimenti of the University of Pisa. The aim of the project is to broaden our knowledge on the prehistoric occupation of the Batinah region, starting from surface surveys and stratigraphic excavations. The first research campaign made it possible to identify new areas with dispersions of prehistoric materials from Neolithic and pre-Neolithic periods, to map the radiolarite outcrops present in some lateral valleys of Wadi Sahtan and to collect new data on the Hayy al-Sarh site, one of the few known Neolithic sites in the central sector of the al-Hajar mountains. New research is currently ongoing.
During 2024, a first excavation campaign on an extended surface of 20×10 has been carried out, allowing the identification of one main area of occupation (Area A2) with remains of a hut and other anthropic structures. The hut is of subcircular shape, with several hearths, post-holes structures. Preliminary data suggest an occupation dated towards the end of the Neolithic period.
Contact: Niccolò Mazzucco