Wilayat Sur: Cradle of Civilizations and Discoveries

The first Stone-Age site discovered in Oman was in 1998, in Sur at Wadi Al Falaij, dating to the Middle Pleistocene (780,000–130,000) years ago (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 38). The oldest archaeological sites in Oman were represented by a hearth deep in a gravel cliff at Wadi Al Watiyah in the Muscat Governorate, dating to about (9000–8500 BC). The pluvial period (9000–5000 BC) witnessed a wide spread of stone-tool sites from the Dhofar Governorate northwards, characterised by arrow- and spear-heads, and known by the name of the site where they were first found, namely (Fasad) (now Al Hashman) in the Dhofar Governorate. The site of Ras Al Jinz (RJ-37) was discovered in the Wilaya of Sur, located on the top of a knoll between two rocks, containing hearths, semicircular stone layers and pavements perhaps forming the base of a hut. Another hunting site was discovered in the plains of South Al Sharqiyah at the Ras Al Jinz site, with grooved conical stones to each of which a rope is tied around the middle — an indicator of hunting animals of various sizes (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 67). The oldest known sites on the coast of the Arabian Sea are the site of Ras Al Hadd (HD-6) and the two Al Suwaih sites (SWY-1 & SWY-11), which date to the sixth millennium BC (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 75). Archaeological research in the area began in 1982, and the (Joint Hadd Project) by French and Italian researchers began in 1985; the seasonal campaigns continued, especially for the Ras Al Hadd and Ras Al Jinz sites, and the number of campaigns up to the year 2000 reached (12 campaigns) during which (98 sites) were excavated. The campaigns continued after this date, for numerous sites in South Al Sharqiyah extending up to near Qurayyat in the north. The most important sites studied intensively was the Ras Al Jinz site (RJ-2), in which many discoveries were found, summarised in the research (Cleuziou & Tosi 2000: 19-73). These two researchers proposed that Ras Al Jinz and its important archaeological sites be added to the UNESCO World Heritage sites (Cleuziou & Tosi 2000: 24). This research was crowned with the book authored by the same researchers, in which they reviewed the results of their research and the research carried out in Oman and around it over thirty years; this book presented many of the studies specific to the Wilaya of Sur, especially the two important sites, Ras Al Jinz and Ras Al Hadd (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012). The most important results of these studies and research:
• Ras Al Jinz, Ras Al Hadd and the area surrounding them are among the most important sites for studying coastal areas at the world level, having contained many discoveries of high value, over long time periods extending from the sixth millennium BC to the Iron and Islamic ages (Cleuziou 2000: 24).
• The site of the city of Sur and the surrounding villages and towns — including Ras Al Hadd, Ras Al Jinz, Al Ain, Al Falaij, Bilad Sur, Qalhat, Tiwi, the mountains overlooking the city and the extended coasts — is among the most important archaeological sites that date human activity in ancient times. The khors (inlets) of Al Hajar and Khor Jarama represent the most important sea ports that linked the Indus Valley with Mesopotamia and the Arabian Peninsula since the most ancient times, and their activity continued until the thirteenth century CE, when at that time the Kingdom of Hormuz was founded at Qalhat.
• There are many sites discovered in Sur dating to the sixth and fifth millennia BC, including the sites near the shore at Ras Al Jinz, namely the site (RJ-27), discovered in 1990 and dating to the sixth millennium BC (Cleuziou & Tosi 2000: 24-26).
• Population density appeared in Sur from the fourth millennium BC, and the most important sites representing the first half of the fourth millennium BC are the two Ras Al Jinz sites (RJ-40 & RJ-42). At the end of the fourth millennium BC, Oman became part of the great network of the region's maritime trade, which included the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Makran to Kutch, being the bridge linking India and Mesopotamia (Cleuziou & Tosi 2000: 24-26).
• The fourth millennium BC is represented at Ras Al Jinz by (RJ-1 & RJ-40 & RJ-2); the site (RJ-2) represents the last centuries of the fourth millennium BC, while the site (RJ-40) points to the end of the fifth and fourth millennia BC, and the site (HD-6) at Ras Al Hadd is dated to the end of the fourth millennium BC (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 109-110). This settlement is the first settlement to be discovered in Oman, dating to the late fourth and early third millennia BC, and points to a new social order (Al Mudailawi 2007: 164-165), while the site (RJ-6) at Ras Al Jinz represents the early period of the third millennium BC (Al Mudailawi 2007: 166).
• There are also settlements from the second half of the third millennium BC, including the settlements (HD-1 & HD-5 & HD-99 & HD-4) at Ras Al Hadd, and the settlement (RJ-2) at Ras Al Jinz (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 250-254; Azzara & Rorre 2019: 25-47). Sites were discovered in the Al Ain oasis near Ras Al Hadd dating to the third millennium BC (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 268-270), and at Tiwi sites were discovered dating to the late fourth millennium BC and early third millennium BC (Korn et al. 2008: 59-94).
• The Wadi Suq period (2000–1000 BC) is represented at Ras Al Jinz by the site (RJ-1) for the period (2000–1300 BC) (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 272-285), and the two sites (RJ-6 & RJ-21) (Cleuziou & Tosi 2000: 66-67). The first millennium BC is represented at the site (HD-9) at Ras Al Hadd (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 301-309), and the two sites (HD-21 & HD-60) also at Ras Al Hadd (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 315), and the site (RJ-33) at Ras Al Jinz represents the Iron Age (Cleuziou & Tosi 2000: 40-41).
• The total of the cairn burials in South Al Sharqiyah is estimated at about (3000 BC), dating to the end of the fourth and the beginning of the third millennium BC. Around Ras Al Jinz, Shiya and Khor Jarama lie more than (200 monuments), including those at the Ras Al Hadd settlement (HD-6) and (HD-10), and in the area of Kabikab, Al Jaylah, Halwat, Wadi Al Falaij, Bilad Sur, Qalhat and the many sites surrounding the Wilaya of Sur, and at the two Ras Al Jinz sites (RJ-31 & RJ-27) (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 134-140). The cairn graves at Ras Al Jinz (RJ-6) date to (3000 BC) and are an extended grave; the graves of the site (RJ-26) at Ras Al Jinz are estimated to the Jemdet Nasr period (3200–2700 BC). More than (350 cairn graves) were excavated, including (23 graves) at the site (RJ-27) and (31 graves) at the Ras Al Jinz site (RJ-31) (Cleuziou & Tosi 2000: 26); among the graves of the Umm Al Nar period (2700–2000 BC) are the two sites (RJ-11 & RJ-1) (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 142-154).
• The finds that have been discovered are very many and varied, including: the seals dating to the third millennium BC — Ras Al Hadd and Ras Al Jinz are the areas where most of these seals were found, and the oldest; many pieces of bitumen (about 300 bitumen pieces) dating to the period (2350–2200 BC); beads of gold and pearl (third millennium BC); an ivory comb (third millennium BC); and a stone incense burner dating to the third millennium BC, considered the oldest incense burner in the Arabian Peninsula (Archaeological Holdings, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism 2009).
• The remains relating to the making of fish-hooks from shells date to the sixth millennium BC, and the remains of fishing with fixed nets and cast (throw) nets to the beginning of the Bronze Age at the Ras Al Jinz site (RJ-2). Fish-smoking sites were also found, especially the tuna fish of the (Jaidar) yellow-fin type, which is still among the most fished and food-demanded fish in Sur to this day; the quantities of fish found are large, and were used for trade and marketing to the interior regions of Oman (Cleuziou & Tosi 2000: 38-42).
• Agricultural oases are believed to have existed in Sur from the third millennium BC (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 160-162); among the plants found in Sur for that period are the palm, the sidr and the tamarind (Cleuziou & Tosi 2000: 44).
• Pottery production began widely from (2600 BC) in Magan (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 241-242); pottery was found in Sur from the Early Bronze Age, and was also found at Ras Al Jinz (RJ-2), including sherds of orange sandy pottery and red- and grey-coloured pottery (second half of the third millennium BC); there is a high proportion of pottery sherds imported from Sind, in large sizes used to transport goods, and smooth soapstone (chlorite) vessels were also found at Ras Al Jinz, dated to about (2300 BC) (Cleuziou & Tosi 2000: 52-53).
• The most important ports in South Al Sharqiyah were (Khor Jarama and Khor Al Hajar) at Ras Al Hadd; the goods reached Ras Al Jinz, and Ras Al Hadd was an important point on the trade route to India that passes across the Arabian Sea (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 255).
• Copper-making began in Magan from (3400 BC); in Sur there are two important copper sites, namely (RJ-2) at Ras Al Jinz and Wadi (Shab-1) at Tiwi, and the Wadi Shab site is the richest in information about copper. At Ras Al Jinz more than (1500) copper pieces were found, and the copper of Ras Al Jinz is of the highest quality, indicating the extent of the welfare and progress the people of Sur enjoyed in the third millennium BC (Cleuziou & Tosi 2000: 57-59).
• Fish-hooks were made from shells from the sixth millennium BC (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 195), and the fishermen used to collect the mineral manganese to obtain a cosmetic powder used as an eye dye (kohl) from the fifth millennium BC (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 196).
• Oman has been famous for navigation and shipbuilding since ancient times; the name (Magan) means in both the Sumerian and Akkadian languages (the land of ships) or (the port of ships) (Al Turki 2017: 120 & 171). Navigation flourished in Magan from the middle of the third millennium BC (Al Jaru 2010: 99-100), and the technique of building wooden boats is a traditional Arab craft in use since the end of the third millennium BC, when reed boats were replaced by wooden boats (Cleuziou and Tosi 2012: 213-214). The (Magan) ship is the oldest Omani ship made of reeds, dating to the third millennium BC, and the archaeological evidence discovered at Ras Al Jinz in the Wilaya of Sur clarifies the details of building these ships and boats (Al Jaru 2017: 61-62); the discoveries at Ras Al Jinz provided very important information about how these ships (made of reeds or wood) were built, and their components (Vosmer 2000: 149-151).

Through our review of the ancient history of the city of Sur, during the pre-historic period up to the end of the first millennium BC, we note the unique historical and archaeological potential that distinguishes the Wilaya of Sur, and the important archaeological sites it contains at the world level, including Ras Al Jinz, and the important finds discovered in the wilaya, including the first alphabetic letters in the region, and the other finds relating to industries, especially the copper, pottery, bead and other industries, which were extremely abundant and advanced. The remains relating to maritime navigation and shipbuilding also confirm the city's standing in international navigation since ancient times, and its linking of the international shipping lines between Sind, the Arabian Peninsula and Mesopotamia. These potentials and this standing that this city holds need more effort, collection and evaluation, for the research carried out so far and the future research and excavations the city needs. What has been done in this book is a quick, brief presentation of the city's history and its ancient remains, and we hope that the archaeological sites of Sur — especially those at Ras Al Jinz and Ras Al Hadd — will be added to the UNESCO World Heritage sites, and we hope they will be protected from the hands of vandals and the accelerating development paths in those sites.

References:

Arabic references:

• Asmahan Al Jaru (2010): The Ancient Omani Ports and their Contribution to International Trade in the Light of the Classical (Greek and Roman) Sources, Gulf Journal of History and Archaeology, Issue 5, pp. 99–133.
• Asmahan Al Jaru (2017): The Rise and Decline of Navigation and the Navigational Centres among the Arabs before Islam, Sultan Qaboos University, Journal of the College of Arts and Social Sciences, Vol. 8, Issue 3, pp. 57–69.
• Boris Zarins (2001): The Land of Frankincense, translated by Muawiya Ibrahim and Ali Al Mahi, Sultan Qaboos University Publications, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Sciences Series, Vol. 1.
• Daniel Potts (2003): The Arabian Gulf in Antiquity, Part One, translated by Ibrahim Khoury, reviewed by Ahmed Abd Al Rahman Al Saqqaf, the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi.
• Rieto Jäger, Christine Pümpin, Fabio Wegmüller and Hans Wundt (2013): Results of the preliminary survey of the Stone-Age sites in central Oman (2007 season), Journal of Oman Studies, Issue 17, pp. 15–50.
• Serge Cleuziou and Maurizio Tosi (2012): In the Shadow of the Ancestors — the Foundations of Ancient Arab Civilisation in Oman, Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Sultanate of Oman.
• Adel Mahad Masoud Mraikh (2000): Ancient Arabic and its Dialects, Cultural Foundation Publications, Abu Dhabi.
• Abdullah Al Jabbar and Ali Al Mudailawi (2012): Trade Routes in Magan during the Third and Second Millennia BC, Al Darah Journal, Issue 1, pp. 117–162.
• Ali Rashid Al Mudailawi (2007): The Jemdet Nasr Culture in the Region of Oman, Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Al Nahda Press.
• Oman in the Dawn of Civilisation (1985): Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Issue 6, Sultanate of Oman.
• Qusay Mansour Al Turki (2017): The Civilisational Links between Iraq and the Arabian Gulf during the Third Millennium BC, Safahat for Studies, Publishing and Distribution, Damascus.
• Korn, L. J., Häser, J., Schreiber, J., Gangler, A. M., Nagieb, S., Siebert, and Buerkert, A. (2008): Tiwi, Ash Shab and Wadi Tiwi: the development and growth of an oasis on the north-eastern coast of Oman, Journal of Oman Studies, Issue 15 (Arabic translation of Issue 13), pp. 59–94.
• Miles, S. B. (1990): The Countries and Tribes of the Persian Gulf, translated by Mohammed Amin Abdullah, Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Sultanate of Oman.
• Mohammed Al Kindi (2018): The Story of the Earth and Life in Oman, the Omani Geological Society.
• Mahmoud Abu Al Ela (1985): The Geography of the Gulf: the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Countries of Eastern Arabia, Al Falah Library, Kuwait.
• Maan Arab (1969): Sur: Capital of Phoenicia, Beirut.
• Archaeological Holdings (2009): Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman.
• Nasser Ali Al Bilal (2017): The Tribes of the Janba and their Historic Port of Sur, Kuwait National Library.

Foreign references:

Charpentier, V. (1994): Specialised Production at Regional Scale in Bronze Age Arabia: Shell Rings from Ras Al-Junayz Area (Sultanate of Oman). In South Asian Archaeology, Helsinki 1993, K. Koskemienni and A. Parpola Eds. Vol. 1, Suomalainen Tiedakatemian Toimituksia ser. B tom 271, Suomalainen Tiedakatemian, Helsinki: 157- 70.

Cleuziou, S., Gnoli, G., Robin, C., and Tosi, M. (1994): Cachets inscrits de la fin de, 1 Age du Bronze a Ras al- Junayz (Oman) Compte rendus de I Academie des inscriptions et belles lettres: 453- 68.

Cleuziou, S., Reade, J. and Tosi, M. (1990): The Joint Hadd Project, Summary Report on the Third Season (October 1987- February 1988), Mimeo, ERA 30 of CNRS and IsMEO, Paris and Rome.

Serge Cleuziou & Maunizio Tosi (1986): The Joint Hadd Project, Summary Report on the First Season, December 1985. Mimeo., ERA 30du CRA, CNRS et Istituto Universitario Orientale, Paris and Naples.

Serge Cleuziou & Maunizio Tosi (1988): The Joint Hadd Project, Summary Report on the Second Season, November 1986- January 1987, Mimeo., ERA 30 of CRA, CNRS and IUON, Paris and Naples.

Serge Cleuziou & Maunizio Tosi (1994): Black Boats of Magan. Some Thoughts on Bronze- Age Water Transport in Oman and beyond from the Impressed Bitumen Slabs of Ras Al- Junayz. In South Asian Archaeology, Helsinki 1993, A. Parpola and P.  Koskikallio Eds., Vol II, Suomalainen Tiedakatemain Toimituksia ser. B, tom 271, Suomalainen Tiedakatemia, Helsinki: 745-61.

Serge Cleuziou & Maunizio Tosi (1997): Evidence for the use of aromatics in the Early Bronze Age of Oman: Period III at RJ-2 (2300- 2200 BC), In: A. Avanzini (ed). Profumi d Arabia: 57- 81. Rome: L Erma di Breitshneider.

Serge Cleuziou & Maunizio Tosi (2000): Ras Al-Jinz and the Prehistoric Coastal Cultures of the Jalan, The Journal of Oman Studies, volume 11, Page: 19- 73.

Tom Vosmer (2000): Model of Third Millennium BC Reed Boat Based on evidence from Ras al- Jinz, The Journal of Oman Studies, volume 11, Page: 149- 152.

Vosmer Thomas E. (1996): Watercraft and navigation in the Indian ocean: an evolutionary perspective, In: G. Afanas ev. S. Cleuziou, J. R. Lukacs & M. Tosi, (eds.), The Prehistory of the Asia and Oceania: 223- 242. Forli: ABACO.

Valentina M. Azzara & Alexandre P. De Rorre (2019): The First Excavation Season at the Early Bronze Age Settlement of Ras Al Jinz RJ- 3., the Journal of Oman Studies, Vol. 20: 25- 47.

Dr Hamad bin Mohammed bin Juwaid Al Ghailani

Environmental expert and researcher in ancient history