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. |