Preliminary investigation of pre-islamic metallurgical slags from Sumhuram, Dofar region (Oman)

The ancient city of Sumhuram, built in the area of Khor Rori, is the most important pre-Islamic settlement of Dhofar region in southern part of Oman. The site, a crucial stopping place in the internal trade towards south-eastern Arabia and the northern coast of Oman, was an outpost of the Kingdom of Hadramawt. It dates back at least to the 3rd cent. BC although it flourished during the 1st cent. AD, thank to the active exchanges with the Romans. About 50 kilos of iron smithing slags have been found during 2000-2006 archaeological campaigns. Only scanty evidences of furnaces have been identified in the field. However during a recent survey at Khor Rori we have identified a smithing earth. The absence of any evidence of smelting activities seems to suggest that the Sumhuram inhabitants imported raw metals for local production from elsewhere. We present here the preliminary results of an archaeometallurgical study of iron slags and one metallurgical furnace