UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Oman

Bat, Al-Khutm, and Al-Ayn Archaeological Sites

Bat, Al-Khutm, and Al-Ayn form a group well preserves ensembles of ancient necropolises and villages rising from the 3rd Millennium BC. Bat located in a palm grove in Wadi Sharsah is the core part of the site. The necropolis comprised of about 100 graves and circular structures about 20 meters in diameter. These buildings had no doors, and as such, they might have served as tanks. The most modern tower in Bat dates back to ca. 2200-2000, which is the Late Umm- an-Nar era. There are a lofty tower and necropolis in al-Khutm and al-Ayn respectively. These monuments, settlements, irrigation schemes, and necropolises constructed in the Bronze Age form an outstanding example of cultural relics preserved in an exceptional state. The archeological complex enjoys protection from the National Heritage Protection, a Sultanate of Oman decree. The Ministry of Heritage and Culture which performs under the Sultanate of Imam decree aims at protecting the compound from destruction by regulating any developmental plans and access to the site. UNESCO declared the complex a cultural World Heritage Site in 1988.

...[ Continue to next page ]