JOIN USThe settlement was unearthed during excavation in the Sohar Port area of the country at as many as 57 burial sites, Biubwa Ali Al Sabri, Director of Excavation and Archaeological Studies at the Ministry of Heritage and Culture said.
"The findings include remains of human bones, beads and other archaeological objects," Al Sabri was quoted by Gulf News as saying. The excavation work was conducted by five specialists from the national team of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture with the help from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) technicians, specialised in lifting and drawing archaeological evidence.
Al Sabri said the findings would help archaeologist in understanding more about the cultural history.
"These sites dated back to the intervening period of the second millennium BC and the first millennium BC, also known as Wadi Suq era between 2000BC and 300BC," she said.
"As the site of those cemeteries spread over the hills and the valleys, the Ministry divided the site into five sections," she added.
Keeping in view the importance of maintaining the cultural heritage, the Ministry paid special attention to preserving archaeological sites, without hampering the ongoing development projects.
The archaeologist also found bones and teeth of horse in a grave, which was characterised by the existence of two rooms, one for the man's burial and other for the horse.
"We've had several meetings between the Heritage Sector in the Ministry and the management of Sohar Port and decided to have rescue excavations in some sections of those 57 graves," she said, adding that this excavation was funded by the management of Sohar Port, she said.
"A specialist in the study of bones was flown from Sweden by the management of Sohar Port," Al Sabri said.