Monday 15 / December / 2025
Muscat: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, in collaboration with the Czech-American archaeological mission from the University of Utah and the Czech Academy of Sciences, has launched the second season of excavations at the Al-Khashbah site in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi.
Al-Khashbah is considered one of the largest Late Stone Age sites in the region. It features extensive workshops for stone tool production and multiple hearths, offering a rare glimpse into prehistoric life in the Arabian Peninsula. The joint mission is employing cutting-edge technologies to uncover and date archaeological remains, aiming to deepen understanding of ancient human settlement patterns, mobility, and adaptation strategies in arid desert environments.
This excavation is part of a broader national effort to explore and preserve Oman’s rich archaeological heritage. According to the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, a total of 38 archaeological missions are currently active across the Sultanate for the 2025/2026 season. These include teams from Oman (1), Italy (9 missions), France (5), the United States (4), Japan (2), Germany (2), Czech Republic (2), and several joint missions such as Czech-American, Omani-French, Omani-Italian, and Omani-British collaborations.
The research projects are distributed across various governorates, with Dhofar hosting the highest number (8 projects), followed by Al Dakhiliyah and South Al Batinah (4 each), and others spread across Muscat, Al Wusta, North and South Al Sharqiyah, and North Al Batinah.
This growing international interest underscores Oman’s significance as a key location for understanding human history and prehistoric adaptation in the Arabian Peninsula.
