Al-Ṣalaylī, Sultanate of Oman

The Al-Ṣalaylī archaeological site is located in Oman’s al-Sharqiyah North region with parts extending into al-Dakhliyah, lies on the southern slopes of the eastern Ḥajar Mountains. — Figure 1: QGIS map showing the location of the Al-Ṣalaylī archaeological site, Sultanate of Oman.

The Al-Ṣalaylī archaeological site, located in Oman’s al-Sharqiyah North region with parts extending into al-Dakhliyah, lies on the southern slopes of the eastern Ḥajar Mountains (UTM 40Q 46722 m E, 2536303 m N, alt. 279 m).

The site first gained attention in the 1980s when Gerd Weisgerber and Andreas Hauptmann of the German Mining Museum in Bochum visited, drawn to the area’s copper mines. Weisgerber documented the copper mine’s location and estimated the gallery’s size. Interestingly, he also noted the presence of hundreds of Iron Age hut tombs at Al-Ṣalaylī.

A map of the site showing its different elements. — Figure 2: QGIS map of the different archaeological areas of the Al-Ṣalaylī site.

A systematic survey by a Heidelberg University team led by Paul Yule and Michela Gaudiello from 2017 to 2021 marked a turning point. For the first time, the entire Al-Ṣalaylī valley was comprehensively studied, revealing a rich variety of archaeological features, grouped in specific different areas. The survey identified 245 tombs, primarily Iron Age hut tombs scattered across four necropolises (SAL- 1 to SAL-4). Additionally, 161 Muslim graves and 33 undated oblong mounds were found, some intermingling with the Muslim graves but differing in orientation. The core area around the main hut tomb necropolis, designated Al-Ṣalaylī Site 1 (SAL-1), contains 46 hut tombs, two large sub-squared structures, and a further 81 possible Early Iron Age underground graves. South of SAL-1, along the northern bank of an east-west wadi, possible structures hint at a degraded Early Iron Age settlement. Moving eastward across a smaller north-south wadi, one encounters at least four copper slag fields and scattered dry-stone constructions. The easternmost extremity of the site, atop a mountain overlooking the slag fields and the previously named “Persian Village” nowadays called SAL-5, holds the main copper vein with its gallery.

The sectors and finds in the SAL-5 area. — Figure 3: Al-Ṣalaylī Settlement/Workshop area (SAL-5) divided into sectors. The identified structures and buildings are from the 2022 field survey.

In 2022, Dr. Michela Gaudiello, funded by the Society of Antiquaries of London’s Beatrice de Cardi Award and under the patronage of Tübingen University, took over the project. Excavations began in the “Settlement/Workshop Area” (SAL-5). The entire 6-hectare area was meticulously inspected and divided into seven sectors based on the terrain and, in some cases, following bulldozer tracks that had crossed the slag field area. Within these sectors, 70 roundish dry-stone structures and eight square dry-stone buildings were identified, labelled, described, and measured. Archaeological materials scattered across the surface were also collected and are currently under study.

A three-week excavation in Trench 1 (approximately 9 x 9 meters), positioned around Structure 32, revealed evidence of three distinct phases of occupation during the Islamic period. The collected artifacts primarily consist of potsherds, metal scraps (copper and iron), glass fragments, a few shell beads, small tokens, and a limited number of metal objects. Two charcoal samples, retrieved from the floor of Room I and Feature 2 (likely connected to smelting activity), date the two archaeological features to the Early and Middle Islamic Periods, respectively (SU14: 773-979 CE (calibrated 2σ); SU23: 1309-1411 CE (calibrated 2σ)). The large square building discovered beneath and around Structure 32 has been designated B9 (See Figure 4).

Figure 4: Results of the first excavation season at SAL-5, Al-Ṣalaylī site, showing stratigraphic units, walls, and archaeological phases.

Figure 5: Results of the second year of excavation at SAL-5, Al-Ṣalaylī site, showing stratigraphic units, walls, and archaeological phases.

Excavations continued in November 2023, again supported by the Beatrice de Cardi Award and Tübingen University. The remaining unexcavated sections of Trench 1 were fully explored, and a new 4 x 4 meter Trench 2 was opened on its southeastern side. This new area confirmed the initial assumption that part of B9 was reused as a workshop for smelting or roasting copper ore. New round features (Features F3 and F5) were partially excavated. In the northeastern portion of the excavation area, bedrock was reached. Here, sometime in the past (Phase 1 or Phase 2?), quite deep cuts were made into the bedrock, likely for water storage. The purpose of these cuts, whether connected to water management or smelting activities, remains unclear for now. Further excavations and analysis of radiocarbon samples collected from various trench locations and the fill of one of these cuts will hopefully provide more insights (see Figure 5).

The Al-Ṣalaylī archaeological project is shedding light on Oman’s long and fascinating history. The ongoing research promises to unlock even more secrets about this remarkable site.

Project Manager: Michela Gaudiello

References

Khalīfa Khamis al-Rasibī, Gaudiello, M., Yule, P.A. (2018). Survey of Central Oman, Heidelberg University & Ministry of Heritage and Culture. https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeumdok/3885/

Gaudiello, M. forthcoming. The Islamic mining settlement of al-Ṣalaylī: results of the first excavation season. Proceeding of the Seminar for Arabian Studies.

Gaudiello, M. forthcoming. Beatrice de Cardi award 2022 “A diamond in the raw in Oman”: al-Ṣalaylī archaeological project (SAL-SW 2022). Alturath, Bulletin of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman.

Gaudiello, M. & Yule, P.A. 2020. Iron Age survey of the Sharqiyah region, Sultanate of Oman. The IASA Bulletin, 25: 14-15.

Gaudiello, M. & Yule, P. 2019. Archaeological study visit to the Šarqiyyah 28.03.–12.04.2019 Heidelberg University Initiative, Propylaeum-DOK, Heidelberg University online library. https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeumdok/volltexte/2019/4398

Gaudiello, M. & Yule, P. (2018), Survey in Wadi Musfah, east of Ǧebel al-Ṣalayli, Sharqiyyah north province (Sultanate of Oman), Survey 17.–22.10.2018f, interim internal report to Ministry of Heritage and Culture, 23.10.2018.http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeumdok/volltexte/2018/4145

Hauptmann, A. 1985. 5000 Jahre Kupfer in Oman, Die Entwicklung der Kupfermetallurgie vom 3. Jahrtausend bis zur Neuzeit. Bochum: Der Anschnitt, Beiheft 4, Band 1.

Hauptmann, A. & Weisgerber, G. 1981. Third millennium BC Copper production in Oman, Revue d’Archéometrie 1: 131‒138.

Yule, P.A. & Gaudiello, M. 2022. Photogrammetric Recording of Archaeology in South-Eastern Arabia in Cultural Resource Management (Chapter 68). In S. D’Amico & V. Venuti (eds.) Handbook of Cultural Heritage Analysis. Springer: 1933‒1948.

Yule, P.A. & Gaudiello, M. 2019. Photogrammetric recording of an Early Iron Age hut tomb in central Oman, Kermes 107: 50–54, Florence.

Yule, P.A., Gaudiello, M. & Blum, S. 2021. Field report of the Alexander Sima, Heidelberg University Archaeology Mission to Oman, 9 September – 15 October 2021 (submitted to the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Friday, 22 October 2021), Propylaeum-DOK, Heidelberg University online library. https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeumdok/volltexte/2021/5149

Yule, P.A., Gaudiello, M. & Lehner J.W. 2021. Al-Ṣalaylī Valley in Eastern Oman, Early Iron Age Burial and Multi-Period Copper Production. Zeitschrift für Orient-Archäologie (ZOrA), Band 14: 276–317.

Weisgerber, G. 1980. “... und Kupfer in Oman”—Das Oman-Projekt des Deutschen Bergbau-Museums, Der Anschnitt 32: 62‒110.