Ibri – Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has announced that excavations in Dhahirah uncovered 25 tombs dating back to the 3^rd millennium BC. The discovery was made in the Al Subaikhi area of Ibri during a project led by the Department of Heritage and Tourism in the governorate.

According to Walid bin Awad al Ghafri, archaeology specialist in the department, the tombs contain skeletal remains alongside complete pottery items placed within burial chambers. Some of the pottery have been identified as imports from the Jemdet Nasr culture of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). Bronze Age beads made of stone and shells were also unearthed.

Ghafri informed that a team of Omani and international specialists is currently engaged in studying and preserving the artefacts in line with international standards.

Underlining the importance of the find, he said it sheds light on burial practices of ancient Omani societies and points to long-standing trade routes and cultural exchanges linking Oman with neighbouring civilisations. “These findings not only enrich knowledge of ancient civilisations in the Arabian Peninsula but also enhance the value of Oman’s cultural heritage, making the region an important site for archaeological research,” he added.