In the middle of a green agricultural oasis lies "Bait Al Oud", one of the oldest historical houses in the Wilayat of Al Rustaq. The history of this house dates back more than 260 years and tells important historical and social stories for the people of the village of ‘Al Khutwah’.
Humaid al Rajhi, an archaeologist, explains that “Bait Al Oud” was built by Rashid bin Khamis al Rajhi. The total area of the house is 300 square metres and its height reaches 12 metres.
This ancient house consists of two floors in addition to a large tower that includes many defensive weapons. The house has been restored several times, the last of which was in 2018. The restoration process took into account the design principles of ancient architecture. It was recently converted into an archaeological exhibition that reflects the scientific and cultural movement that this village witnessed during that period of time. The house consists of five corners. The first corner is dedicated to archaeological artefacts such as coins, weapons and silverware. The second corner displays old doors and windows with their beautiful decorations. The third corner is dedicated to palm fronds and agricultural materials that were used by ancient Omanis in their daily lives.
The fourth corner is dedicated to manuscripts and historical documents, the oldest of which dates back to 1196 AH, as well as examples of rock inscriptions. The fifth corner contains household tools specific to the old Omani house that are used on a regular basis, such as pottery, copper utensils such as trays and cooking utensils. Today, this archaeological landmark attracts many tourists and those interested in the details of the social history of the Sultanate of Oman. This project also contributes to enhancing the tourism movement in the Wilayat of Al Rustaq, which hosts dozens of archaeological and historical sites.
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