Oman’s largest archaeological site, containing hundreds of ruins ranging from early mosques to Iron Age and even Neolithic structures, is facing major damage from a new coastal road being built from Rakhyut to Dhalqut in Dhofar.
The road is being built along the coast and will pass through isolated Khor (inlet) Kharfot. Although Khor Kharfot is uninhabited, it contains hundreds of ruins that have never been examined properly by archaeologists. The site has been proposed as possibly being the classical frankincense port of “Moscha”, according to Nigel Groom of London, the world’s leading expert on the early incense trade. Ruins on both the east and west sides of the bay will be destroyed by any road building.
Kharfot also is Oman’s last remaining wetland forest, containing a unique ecosystem of rare trees and wildlife, including several rare and endangered species, including leopards. The inlet has remained pristine until now due to its remote location.
It is well known in Salalah that the driving motivation behind construction of the road is a consortium of local businessmen planning to build a tourist hotel at Kharfot. This is despite a tourist hotel at Rakhyut itself that has remained empty since completion three years ago.
Construction of the road began 1st January.
New road to destroy huge archaeological site in Dhofar?
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