Excavation at Shamal tomb to resume in November

Excavation at the Shamal tomb, the largest grave of the Umm Al Nar period to have been discovered so far, will resume after a seven-year hiatus in November.

Last updated: August 08, 2004 | 01:00

By Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporter

1 MIN READ

Excavation at the Shamal tomb, the largest grave of the Umm Al Nar period to have been discovered so far, will resume after a seven-year hiatus in November.

Archaeologists say the upper part of the Shamal tomb, made of carved limestone blocks, originally formed a smooth and well-shaped facade, resembling a large white tower

Tomb interiors show intricate planning
* All Umm Al Nar tombs have a circular ground plan and are divided by walls into several compartments. The size varies, but the 1.45-metre diameter tomb, at which excavation was being carried out, is the largest known in the UAE and Oman.

* The original height of the tomb was probably between two and three metres. Only the lowest layers have survived, buried by silt and gravel.

* The stone doors at the tomb had handles, so they could be taken out whenever a new body had to be buried. Some of the bones were found to be burned, hinting at possible burial rites
of the Umm Al Nar people.

Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox