MUSCAT : This book represents a new and important contribution to the study of Oman’s ancient past.
Written by renowned archaeologists Paul Yule and Fausto Mauro, it is the latest edition in the ‘Omani Archaeological Heritage’ series, published by the Ministry in collaboration with the international specialist publishing house Archaeopress Oxford.

The book offers a glimpse into the Late Iron Age Samad period, a pivotal phase in Oman’s history spanning the centuries preceding the rise of Islam and the beginning of the Hijri calendar. Based on years of fieldwork and archaeological discoveries, Paul Yull and Fausto Mauro reconstruct a detailed picture of settlement patterns, burial traditions, pottery types, and cultural interrelationships in southeastern Arabia during this period immediately preceding the rise of Islam.

Professor Paul Yule, a veteran archaeologist with nearly 40 years of experience in Arabian archaeology, says, “This work fills a 500-year gap in Omani archaeology. Archaeological studies have largely ignored this so-called pre-Islamic period, focusing largely on the Bronze Age and the Islamic Golden Age.

However, this period deserves greater attention because it sheds light on the ancient Arabian economy and regional networks during a period of profound transformation that is still not fully understood.”
This book is distinguished by its easy-to-understand language, multi-media illustrations, and comprehensive coverage of known and newly discovered sites. It also carefully examines the relationship between the Samad period and the so-called modern pre-Islamic era in the present-day United Arab Emirates, offering a new perspective on the archaeological diversity of the southeastern Arabian Peninsula.

Co-author Fausto Mauro, a geospatial analysis expert and doctoral student at the University of Würzburg in Germany, emphasises the broader significance of this book, saying: “We aim to provide not only an academic study, but also to encourage a reassessment of the understanding of Omani and regional heritage. The resilience and adaptability of these ancient societies offers lessons for our own time.”

It is worth noting that the book “At the Dawn of History,” which was printed and published in both the Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom, is an essential reference for researchers, students of history and archaeology, and heritage specialists. It also attracts general readers interested in the ancient history of the Arabian Peninsula.

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