Muscat – In a significant archaeological discovery, ancient rock carvings dating back to the Iron Age have been found in Nakhal, South Batinah. The carvings at the base of Nakhal Fort depict a variety of figures including a horned knight holding a spear, alongside images of horses and other intricate patterns.

According to Harith bin Saif al Kharousi, a historian and excavation specialist, these carvings date to the 1st millennium BC. He pointed out the resemblance of these artworks to similar carvings discovered in Oman’s mountainous regions.

The carvings in Nakhal include snakes, which are unique in the Arabian Peninsula. These were made using a sunken relief engraving technique. 

Kharousi added that the image of a two-horned horseman reflects how ancient civilisations often personified animals, a motif seen in several historical texts.

Kharousi stressed the potential of the site as a cultural and tourism asset, suggesting it could be developed and integrated into local tourist services to boost its attraction to visitors.