The history of Qurum, which is one of the modern areas of Muscat, dates back to about 6,000 years. It is one of the oldest settlements in Oman along with Ras Al Hamra and Wattayah where people settled during Stone Age once the climate became drier.
They roamed through green valleys abundant with water, leaving scatters of tools behind them during the early Stone Age. Eventually, people settled at havens such as Ras Al Hamra as the climate became hotter and drier.
Archaeologists also discovered that the burials of the settlers hinted at deep spiritual beliefs and strong connections to the sea.
Oman's main Stone Age sites are Wadi Al Filayj, Ghinayyim, Wubar, Al Hashman, Wadi Ghadun, Wadi Dawkah, Wadi Ayout and Anqitat. All of these sites belong to the Paleolithic period.
The neolithic sites in Oman are Ras Al Hamra, Wadi Al Wattayah, Ras Al Hadd, Assiwayh and Natif.
In addition to the barrier sites, another feature that narrates the story is the Shell midden. Ancient waste dumps are known as Shell middens. They consist mainly of the remains of shellfish, meals and bones of fish, birds, turtles and mammals. Here, the archaeologists also found discarded tools, ornaments and fireplace charcoal.
The layers of a midden represent different phases of human occupation, often over a long period of time, "They can be dated with precision and contain valuable truths about everyday life. Middens also provide evidence of changes in climate and other environmental conditions."
One can also see the reconstruction of a Shell midden from the site of Ras Al Hamra dated 5600-4500 BC.
Early people established a semi-permanent settlement at Ras Al Hamra on the coast of present-day Muscat before 6000 BC. The settlement touched on three different ecological zones: mangroves, sea coast and wadis - the dry riverbeds, which together provided for a diverse range of year-round resources.
According to the findings of the archaeologists, the people of Ras Al Hamra developed religious beliefs. They used advanced skills to improve the quality of their existence. They made specialised equipment for hunting and fishing and were skilled jewellery makers.
They lived in a circular hut, and outside the hut, they had fire pits, and these were used for cooking, warmth and protection. It was up to a metre wide and made by making a shallow hole and lining it with limestone pebbles. At the Oman Across Ages Museum, a screen displays the life people lived in Ras Al Hamra. Today, modern technology allows us to visualise how they must have lived just by moving the viewer left and right.
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