June 26, 2012 Issue 226 June 26, 2012 Issue 226

BRONZE AGE the next few centuries in the biggest part of the . The language of the new empire came from the NECROPOLIS AT AL AYN same Semitic language groups like modern Arabic and Thoughts & Photography | Jerzy Wierzbicki Hebrew. Even now, a few numbers of Akkadian words still exist in Iraq; we can still find people with Akkadian Middle East raised the first advanced cultures According to authors Marc Van De Mieroop and Daniel personal and tribal names, especially local Christians. and other political formations; without any doubt, Potts, the last archaeological research confirmed that Middle East is the cradle of human civilisation and Bronze Age city-states had been connected with many Even during the war, the cultural contacts between cities probably the place where history of humans began. faraway cultural centres in the central Asia, North Africa, in the Middle East and Africa were very strong. Two cities, In southern (present Iraq), in the Middle Indus valley and Arabian Peninsula. These trade activities specialised in trade with ancient cultures were living at East, the Sumerians had invented the first writing system, spread not only merchandises, but cultural inventions as that time in the modern GCC countries. Archaeological which quickly developed the human culture in this region. well. The end of the third millennium brought about the next excavations confirmed that the ancient city and Suza The real prosperity period in the Middle East was the big civilisation change in the ancient Middle East culture had a lot of contact with two ancient states like Bronze Age in the third millennium BC; this was a golden - the Akkadian King Sargon the Great had conquered (modern ) and Magan (currently the Sultanate time for human culture in the Middle East. During this time most of the city-states in Mesopotamia and formed the of ). Magan had produced a lot of copper, which in Mesopotamia there were several independent city- first big empire in the region. The Akkadian period began was exported later via Bahrain to , located in the states and their major economical activity was trade. and the Akkadian culture was the most influential for modern southern part of Iraq.

32 33 34 tombs spread on many hills. Most of these tombs are are tombs these of Most hills. many on spread tombs shaped ‘beehive’ of hundreds contains necropolis The Oman. in region Dhahirah Al in culture Age Bronze the huge necropolis, which the is throughthe most known impressive well remains is of period This before. periods than made precision moreit’s painted period; this from pottery wheel-turned the be could examples good - advances of the early Bronze Age people living in Magan technological and cultural the of evidence more found have Archaeologists Ayn. article’, Al the of hero ‘the or known wellBat and Nar an Ummlike Oman severalin sites archaeological have we age Bronze Early From country. of this prosperity of periods of first the in the Magan land increased during that time; this is one an Nar period (2500-1800BC) began. Copper production theAfter Hafitperiod, theBronzeearly Agecalled Umm intensive. very confirm thatcontacts with Mesopotamian cultures were time this from artefacts other and Pottery 3000 BC. 2600 to between was age Copper the - found first was site oftheremainsthiswherethe archaeological period the copper period called Hafit, according to the name of millenniuminthird early the in began country Magan of Importance periods. past all from remains architectural sites archaeological where scientists of have lot found a several have cultural we artefacts and Oman, in Here, gop f ob lctd n h sal il et o the to wadi. next hill small the in located tombs of group a see can you Bat, from east to25kms around located is which Ayn, Al In alone. mostly - hills the of top the on located are Bat, near brown especially them, of dark Some rocks. local the with together put blocks stone of beehives, remainswith a small entrance. All tombs theare built from like shape circular a by characterised are tombs The UNESCO). to (according BC 2465 and hasdetermined been that it was built 2595between it BC and excavated entirely been has towers the of One Age Bronze the culture of Magan. about information of lot have a archaeologists collected time that since and 70s early excavated in was necropolis The Ayn. Al and Khutm Al Bat, in like more is tombs the of concentration where dated to the third Millennium BC. There are a few places

June 26, 2012 Issue 226 BRONZE AGE NECROPOLIS AT AL AYN shle ra o te ml hl. qipd ih one with Equipped hill. small the on road asphalted the from metres hundred a just located Tombsare The feet. on my trip I continued and car myin pipeexhaustthe off wrenched meters, several After tombs. with hill the to forward drive on the stony wadi just before the footpath, leading Ayn village early afternoon. The first thing I did was try to oftime.Al matter wasthea rainjust and reached I dark very were clouds The bit. a temperature the reducing sun, the covered that clouds the was pleasant trip the made What dry! but hot, very a was air The was different. bit day this on weather The ago. week a located, are tombs of group known well most where Ayn Al to wentsite.I archaeological different a chose I butagain, After a long time I felt like visiting this ancient place once this featured I’d – 136. Yissue in location reconstructed and ruined shaped circular tombs and stony sites; burial of lot a found and sunrise the during morning early the in Ibri, behind years ago. I went to a town called Bat, several kilometres two almost time first the for necropolis Bat the visited I important evidences of the long human history in Oman. region are on the UNESCO heritage list and are the most Dhahirah Al in tombs all years, of Now,thousands after long-term without and social achievestability. prosperity economical to impossible been have would which bonds, cultural and spiritual of complexity the clearly demonstrates practice funeral unique This and trade contact with far away Mesopotamian cultures. of the in people that time toled intensive mining copper Prosperity, as well as social and technological advances

P lcto o Te ob i A An N23’12’58” Ayn Al in Tombs The E56’57’45” of location GPS Please keep these places clean and undamaged. around not is compulsory; there 4x4is Ayn. good condition After asphalted Al road. called village Dam. the reach Wadi will you to 25kms leading sign road with junction a is Ibri beforeIbri; to go BahlaFrom Bahla. to forward straight drive and Nizwa highwayto the on Go THERE: GET TO HOW the tombs are protected by a Royal Decree. - forbidden is pottery tombs,the of likestony elements List Heritage so UNESCOcollecting any artefacts, archaeological the on are objects archaeological these All few date trees. village. the a and stonywadi to a is tombs the and road the next Between site, hand left the on located are tombs of group the Ayn In village. the surrounding hills the tombs; near Bat, many of them areon scattered the find to difficult notIt’s Ayn. or Bat especially Dhahirah, I really recommend all fans of historical places to visit Al situation. different I had a chance to experience this location in completely from this place were taken in the sunny light conditions. water on the lens. Ithe of drops was the saw I satisfied. camera my Mostof viewer the ofin and thephotographs photography.forraining conditions Suddenly,started it massive and sky cloudy rocksof Jabal Misht on planethecreated good second grey the and tombs Dark stony great! was place the of atmosphere the tombs; the capturing started I lenses, fixed two with camera,

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