Oman and its Heritage
Penny Young explores the astonishingly rich archaeological heritage of Oman.
Oman has been called one of the best kept secrets in the Middle East. Just 30 years ago, its borders were sealed to the outside world. There was no infrastructure, no development and no official interest in the country’s marvellous cultural heritage. But all that changed when the present ruler, Sultan Qaboos, deposed his father in 1970 and began what he called Oman’s renaissance.
Dr Birgit Mershen, an ethno-archaeologist working in Oman, describes what is happening there as ‘unique’. On the one hand, Oman has embarked enthusiastically on a restoration programme for its ancient forts and castles while on the other the Oman people have started to abandon their historic mud and stone homes, villages and even towns in favour of a modern concrete lifestyle.
‘The pace of change has been so fast, faster than anywhere else in the world,‘ says Dr Mershen. ‘Documentation is a top priority and it has to be done within the next few years’.
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