English abstract
A new programme of excavation focused on the prehistoric funerary monuments included in the Salut Archaeological Park, in the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate of Oman, was started in late 2016 by the team of the former Italian Mission to Oman (University of Pisa). The goal is to investigate a significant sample of the numerous tombs visible in the area, with the final aim of providing additional data for the reconstruction of human occupation from the Early Bronze Age to the Late Iron Age. Here, the results of the first field seasons (late 2016 – early 2018) are reported. While the majority of the tombs excavated so far can be easily compared with well-known types of prehistoric burials in South East Arabia, two excavated examples represent a rarely documented type for the region. They are comprised of a mainly above-ground, rectangular chamber built with large squared boulders and can be most likely dated to the local Early Bronze Age. The description of their peculiar layout can provide helpful reference during surveys when similarly arranged walls can be misunderstood as belonging to non-funerary structures. The discovery of a small, sealed Wadi Suq grave also deserves mentions, as it represents an exceptional happenstance for the regio.
