UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Oman

Oman's cultural heritage includes frankincense trees, irrigation channels, forts, and the ancient Bat settlements.

UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites In Oman

World Heritage Graves at Al Ayn in Oman.

Oman's cultural heritage includes frankincense trees, irrigation channels, forts, and the ancient Bat settlements. The irrigation schemes utilized the Aflaj innovative works to facilitate the flow of water from underground springs in faraway lands to the wells and underground water channels. The Aflaj Irrigation Systems in Oman bear witness to this technology. The Bahla Fort is a unique ensemble of the influence of an elite people that dominated Central Omani by establishing a trading capital. There is an archeological complex site that has managed to retain most of the necropolises and settlements dating back to 3rd millennium BC. The Frankincense Trees and Spice Trade Heritage illustrate the Silk Road trade routes in details more especially frankincense trade along the coast of Oman.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Oman

Aflaj Irrigation Systems

The Aflaj Irrigation Systems in Dahiliya, Batinah, and Sharqiya, Oman are water channels dating back to 500 AD. The site has five aflaj irrigation schemes, representatives of about 3000 similar systems still in use in the country. Archeological evidence, however, suggests that the ancient irrigation systems existed in Oman as early as 2500 BC. The scheme rationed water efficiently among all its inhabitants. The water flowed from the sources to croplands and homes through the use of gravity. There were also numerous watchtowers built to protect the water systems, mosques and other structures in the compound. The water system attests to a historic community that depended on the aflaj system for water management and equity needed to survive in the extremely arid area of Oman. The mutual dependency and mutual values sustained the Oman community and their system of survival. UNESCO declared this scheme a World Heritage Site in 2006. The main threat facing the cultural site is the falling level of underground water.