Archeological material of the Ministry’s internet site

Bat site:

Bat settlement is located in the east of Ibri. A Danish mission has in cooperation with the exploration and archeological studies department at the Ministry of Heritage and Culture conducted exploration at the site. This led to finding cemeteries which are located 1-2 kilometer to the north west of the current village. The southern part of the site contains cemeteries of the um al-Nar period’s style. Their internal wall style and the scattered pottery pieces in the city have led to discovering these cemeteries.

The northern part of the cemeteries consists of bee hive tombs. The construction style of these cemeteries resembles the Hafait period’s tombs. A cemetery containing 100 tombs built of stone was also found. This cemetery has reflected the transition from the bee hive tombs to um al-Nar cemeteries. The bee hive tomb contained two to five tombs, while um al-Nar cemeteries were collective. A cemetery of the last style containing 30 burial chambers was also found at the site.

The findings of those cemeteries included red pottery pieces which resemble the pottery of Jamdat Nasr site in Iraq. A well manufactured red pottery ornamented with horizontal black lines and other pieces with hangers were also found. Such type of jars was prevalent in the cemeteries and settlements of the um al-Nar period in Oman and the Emirates.

A rounded shape building surrounded by a wall made of square stones was found in the site. In the south eastern side of the building a mastaba leading to the building entrance was found, in addition to a well which divides the building into two parts, each of them contained triangular chambers. There was no entrances between those chambers which indicates that the well may relate to the irrigation operations in the area. Other five constructions resembling this building were also found.

Following a study of the site these buildings were considered as towers used to guard the area. Bat gains its historical importance from its location at the intersection of ancient trade routes as convoys carrying goods used to pass by Bat heading to its adjacent sites. Due to the importance of the site, the UNESCO has enlisted it in the World heritage register in 1988. Bat is the second Omani archeological site to be enlisted in the World heritage register after Nizwa Castle.

In preparation of the tourist rehabilitation project of Bat archeological settlement, exploratory works were conducted in several archeological tombs which dated back to the Um al-Nar period and the Iron age. An archeological tomb dating to Um al-Nar period and some chambers of the main tower in the settlement were renovated. A fortification building dating back to Lazq period was found at Wadi A`in.

A cemetery dating back to Um Al-Nar period at Bat	A bee hive cemetery at Bat Wadi
A`in cemeteries 30 km North Eastern Bat