Saham: The Archaeology Department at Sultan Qaboos University, under the supervision of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, has uncovered a pair of complete copper cymbals during excavations at the ‘Dahwa 7’ site, located on the outskirts of Wadi Al-Sakhn in the Wilayat of Saham, North Al Batinah Governorate.

According to Oman News Agency, archaeological evidence scattered densely across the surface indicates that the site was once a settlement of a local culture that thrived in the region between 2700 and 2000 BCE. After lying buried and hidden by the early inhabitants of the Omani Peninsula for over 4,000 years, the excavations have revealed, for the first time, cultural secrets and religious beliefs lost to time for millennia.

The archaeological team excavated several structures within the settlement, confirming that the site was highly prosperous. Its inhabitants relied heavily on copper mining for their livelihood, in addition to agriculture-particularly date palm cultivation-and livestock rearing. The discovery of large quantities of pottery imported from the Indus Valley, found within the settlement, indicates strong trade relations with the Harappan civilization, which flourished in that region.