Along the coastal highway linking the Wilayat of Qurayat with the Wilayat of Sur, the road user may be preoccupied with the charming view of the sandy and rocky beaches on the eastern side. But whoever has the boldness and desire to explore may find what satisfies his or her curiosity on the opposite side of the coastal road.
The western side is covered by high mountain ranges that extend along the highway leading to Sur. Behind this mountain range there are small villages and beautiful natural oases. The water flows in the form of waterfalls, its hills and valleys are adorned with trees that attract various types of wildlife.
Beautiful natural oases are not the only ones that attract adventure enthusiasts. On the slopes and hills of these mountains, there are rare and invaluable archaeological and geological sites. In villages such as Fins, Aumq Rabakh, Kabda, and Sakhrrat, there are remains of walls, towers, and tombs dating back thousands of years. A large part of these antiquities disappeared due to negligence and due to the impact of erosion factors and climatic changes that the region
witnesses from time to time.
One of the most important of these monuments is the Kibaykib tombs, which are located at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level. Visitors can find the archaeological tombs of Kibaykib which are known locally as (Burj Kibaykib) near the village of Qarran above the Salmah plateau, which is Ancient tombs dating back to the Bronze Age, about 4,000 years ago.
The height of Buruj Kibaykib is between 4-5 meters, and these tombs were built in a cylindrical shape, and some of these tombs consist of two walls, between which there is a space filled with stones.
In the village of Fins and Kabda, there are archaeological sites that can be seen clearly on the tops of the rocky plateaus. Those who do not dare to venture, cannot identify these natural treasures that hide among the high mountains, whose height ranges between 1000-2500 meters.
The way to reach these treasures first requires a good skill in driving a four-wheel drive vehicle. Secondly, it requires the adventurer to have good fitness and high skills in hiking. Without these skills in driving a car and practicing walking in rough terrain, it is not possible to reach these exceptional sites.
Many adventurers enjoy photographing and documenting these sites after their arrival. “My arrival at this point is an achievement in itself. I did not expect what I saw. From now on, I will not hesitate to participate in any scientific trip that will help me discover the natural and archaeological sites in the Sultanate of Oman. Access to these sites is worth the effort”, an Omani adventure told the Observer.
"What caught my eye was the site chosen to build such small towns. I still wonder by what means did man reach these very rugged areas? How were these sites identified? What tools were used in designing the site? How many workers were involved building these cities?” he added.
Many questions arise in the minds of visitors and explorers of these sites. “Unfortunately, we say that there are many sites that have not been documented until this moment, so it is necessary to prepare a national strategy aimed at studying and documenting these sites in the various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman," said a tourist.
Geology experts confirm that the Sultanate of Oman has a unique set of geological features, and it is an important area for geological studies and biodiversity. Some geological sites date back to the end of the Paleozoic Era — about 270 million years ago - and the Mesozoic Era.
These geological features contain various marine fossils, including marine corals, snails, fish and shellfish of various kinds, in addition to the fact that Oman includes a group of craters of dormant volcanoes for millions of years, and they are located along huge cracks in the Sultanate of Oman.
The White Mountain, which is located between the Wilayats of Qurayat, Sur, Dima W'attayeen consists of white calcareous rocks that were deposited in shallow seas about 50 million years ago. This mountain contains a group of cave systems in the world, including the Cave of Majlis Al Jinn.
TEXT & PHOTOS BY YAHYA ALSALMANI
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