Sohar Project: The Archaeology of an Indian Ocean Port in Arabia

Abstract

The Sohar Project is an international collaboration that aims to look at the history and archaeology of the port of Sohar, Oman. We wish to examine the once famous early Islamic port city in the broader context of its foundation, development as a vibrant entrepôt on the Indian Ocean, and subsequent transitions through mid to late Islamic phases. Sohar is a site of outstanding international significance. At a time when a large portion of western Eurasia had been united under the newly established Islamic Caliphate, Sohar rose to prominence as a leading centre of trade in the Indian Ocean and the primary point of maritime exchange in Arabia. During these early centuries the urban landscape, constructed largely of fired brick, stretched over 2km along the shore. The remains of the city form the archaeological settlement mound – perhaps the largest tell in Arabia. The story of Sohar and its material culture are of crucial significance to understanding the early development of economic pathways that connected the Middle East directly with China, India, and East Africa for the first time in history. These routes were primarily developed by Omani sailors via Sohar, as has been recognised in the historical record dating from as early as the 9th century.