The 2003 campaign at Khor Rori, Oman - Università degli Studi di Pisa

During the long campaign of 2003 many important data were brought to light.
The excavations were concentrated in two areas inside: Area A (near the monumental gate) and Area F (north-western sector of the city) and at the ruins of a structure located 300 m north-west of Sumhuram.
Here the remains of a temple extra muros were individuated. The core of the structure was an almost square room with the entrance located in the centre of the south-western wall. The findings (several stone incense burners, a necklace made of sea-shells, a coin) as well as several potsherd, allow us to date the construction of the temple close to the third century BC. The temple seems to be abandoned in the late first century BC, probably as result of a flooding of wadi Darbat.
Inside the city the temple dedicated to the god Sin offered the most surprising findings. Many votive objects were found scattered on the upper floor of the sanctuary: sea-shells, bronze incense burners and a bronze bowl with dedicatory inscription mentioning the god Sin and his temple in the city of Sumhuram in the land of Sakalan. Two phases have been recognized: the first placed between the 2nd cent. BC and the 2nd cent. AD, the second until the 4th cent. AD.
In area A the excavations were concentrated in building BA4. Three phases have been individuated: the first one, contemporary to the construction of the city walls, finished in the late 1st cent. AD when there was a period of abandonment.
The building was after re-occupied and rebuilt adding a new porch and some steps, while in the third phase (3rd-4th cent. AD) a new antechamber was constructed in front the façade wall M70.