In Oman’s expansive deserts, a global team of researchers has unearthed remarkable artifacts that offer a glimpse into the earliest history of human civilization in Southern Arabia. The findings, from the third consecutive season of excavations led by the Institute of Archaeology of the CAS in Prague, were shared through the @Arduq_Arabia Twitter account (source: https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/oman-desert-0018427).

Among the discoveries were hand axes dating back about 300,000 years, believed to have been made by some of the first humans to migrate out of Africa. The researchers also explored ritual stone monuments known as triliths, which resemble a smaller version of England’s Stonehenge and date back approximately two thousand years. However, the purpose and creators of these structures are still unknown.

The second expedition team focused on a Neolithic tomb near the town of Ibri, dating back to between 5,000–4,600 BC. Here, they found a megalithic structure hiding two circular burial chambers filled with the skeletal remains of several dozen individuals. The team also discovered Late Stone Age rock engravings, providing a pictorial record of life spanning from 5,000 BC to 1,000 AD.

Viktor Černý, from the Institute of Archaeology in Prague, emphasized that the interaction between African and Arab archaeological cultures found in these excavations will help in understanding the formation of contemporary society in Southern Arabia. These fascinating discoveries remind us that archaeology is not just about the past, but also the present and future, and that every grain of sand has a story to tell.