Tag: History of Oman

Rock Art of Oman.

There are numerous rock art sites found here in Oman, but it would seem that its cultural significance is lost on most of the indigenous population.

A search of the internet finds very little on the subject and The Journal of Oman studies has only the odd reference.

It can be rather difficult dating it; but given the subject matter, I would think using examples found in such places as Saudi Arabia and other areas of the Middle East; dating should not be outside the bounds of possibility.

Another reason is that it can be rather hard finding it; given that most of the really old examples are in places that are well off the beaten track. This may be a good thing though, because I have found some sites that have had ‘graffiti’ added (The only description I can come up with when I see ‘Kilroy’ was here or at least the Arabic/tourist equivalent) to pictograms that are maybe hundreds of years old.

A little information on the Shir/Jaylah tombs.

These are on a plateau at an altitude of approximately 1758m. and in various degrees of decrepitude some 92 in total (some being only a circle/oval seen from the air): the one I photographed is probably the best preserved on the site at a position:

22°48’55.31″N   59° 3’17.74″E  it can be seen quite clearly if you copy this to Google Earth or this link to maps.

The Tomb itself has a preserved height of approximately 6m and is probably late Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age (3500–2500 BC). Construction must have taken many months not to mention dressing the blocks first; as they have been ‘chipped’ with hammer stones to make the shape needed for construction.

I first visited the site in 1992 or 1993 if I remember correctly, using directions given by a friend and from the nearest town Ibra  (Arabic: ابراء‎ ) in the Ash Sharqiyah region of Oman (a 1980’s ordinance survey map & compass – no GPS at that time!). The drive was quite rough going because it involved a lot of off road work searching for a route over or around obstacles. Great fun……

It is still a difficult drive in 2010 but at least the approach from Ibra is now tarmac road.

Hello World.

I have been thinking about starting a blog of photographs made here in Oman for a long time.

Anyway here it is – I hope you like it.

A little info about my pictures and the equipment I use.

Copyright

All images appearing in this web site are the exclusive property of David A Lockwood but if you would like to use any of them please contact me – I will probably say yes.

Enough of that.

Film – I have not gone over to the dark side! I just cannot interact with a digital camera, so the nearest I come is using a scanner.

Most of the images are taken with my trusty Nikon F4 or F2 (both really nice intuitive cameras) and for larger negatives I use a Bronica S2a which was a very nice gift from my daughter a few years ago (very good Nikon lenses).

I use a traditional darkroom setup – getting harder to find suppliers  here in Oman over the last few years…..

A word of warning, I am terrible with giving information about camera setting, film used and even the place the image was made: But I will try. Google Earth plus GPS is now my friend.

Enough for now, I will add more as I go along; after all this is about photographs not me writing.

Tomb.Tomb of the Umm an-Nar period at Shir Jaylah in the eastern Hajjar (جبال الحجر).