As part of an excavation campaign launched in 2024 in the area of Hayy Al-Sarh, near the city of Rustaq in Oman, the remains of a Neolithic campsite dating back to 3600–3400 BCE have been uncovered. The discovery was made within the framework of the international project PrehistOman, directed by Niccolò Mazzucco of the University of Pisa, in co-direction with Khaled Douglas and Nasser Al-Jahwari of Sultan Qaboos University. The project is carried out with the approval of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism of Oman and under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The mission aims to investigate prehistoric occupation in Oman’s inland regions, which remain largely unexplored to this day. Most of the archaeological evidence relating to hunter-gatherer-fisher populations originates from excavations along the coast, particularly in the area of present-day Muscat and the Ja’lān region.
At the Hayy Al-Sarh site, an excavation area of approximately 60 square metres was opened, revealing an archaeological layer containing the remains of a Late Neolithic campsite. Of particular significance is the discovery of a dwelling structure, a pseudo-circular hut, likely constructed using a wooden framework, of which postholes remain, and originally covered with branches. This type of structure closely resembles examples found along the coast in the Ras Al Hamra area. Surrounding the hut, several hearths and combustion areas have been identified, along with a zone dedicated to flintknapping and lithic production, where distinctive bifacially retouched arrowheads were found.
“The discovery of an archaeological structure within a stratified context is extremely rare in Oman,” comments Professor Mazzucco. “Most prehistoric evidence in the region has been documented on the surface, often consisting of poorly preserved architectural traces and scattered artefacts. The excellent preservation of the stratigraphy at this site has allowed for the collection of a greater number of samples for bioarchaeological and palaeoenvironmental analyses, and for radiocarbon dating, which places the structure between 3600 and 3400 BCE.”
Preliminary pollen and geomorphological studies suggest that the campsite was located near a seasonally wet area. Based on the raw materials recovered and worked on site, as well as the presence of shell ornaments, it appears that the community occupying Hayy Al-Sarh moved across a vast territory—from the coast to the Al Hajar mountain range, and as far inland as the area around modern-day Bisya, covering straight-line distances of over 150 kilometres.
Future research will focus on completing the excavation of the campsite and identifying new anthropogenic structures within the site, which appears to be extensive and largely unexplored.
