The 2001 campaigns at Khor Rori, Oman - Università degli Studi di Pisa

During the first campaign of 2001 (SUM01A), the interventions were focused in the area eastern of the palace-temple (A8) and in the north-western area of the city (F6). In A8 a clear stratigraphical sequence was cleared and a division in five different phases was attributed to the area. BA1, already excavated in the previous campaign, was completed and revealed characteristic findings (fragments of amphorae, coins classified as "Early Hadrami Imitations"), similar to the materials found in rooms A14, A17, A19, belonging to a first occupational phase of the site.
Remains of a building, BA2, contemporary to BA1, were discovered below the foundation of building BA3. In F6 a new building (BF3) was individuated and excavated. For the moment two phase have been recognized: the first, consisting in two rectangular edifices, erected above the bedrock and the second, when considerable renovations have been made (entrances blocked with stones, upper parts of the walls rebuilt). In the area of the city gate excavations were performed western of wall M8, in order to clean the whole western wall of the city gate.

During the second campaign (SUM01B) the excavation of BA3 has been completed and the main goal was to clarify the character of the small gate situated in the south-eastern part of the city wall. The passage, long 2.45 m, was constructed in the body of the wall and, in the external side, a steep staircase lead down towards the foot of the rock. In the same time two small soundings were made in the site of Ayn Humran at the village (Sounding A) and at the fort (Sounding B).
The purpose was to find the so-called "local material" contemporary to Sumhuram. However the excavations revealed a not clearly identifiable pottery assemblage, without comparisons with any material from south-west or south-east Arabia.