Video: The mysteries of ancient ruins at the Omani Shisr site

In the heart of Dhofar Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman stands the World Heritage Site of Shisr, a testament to the ingenuity of ancient civilizations and their secrets, which Omani archaeologist Mabrouk Masen has dedicated his life to uncovering.

The Shisr site, with its historical artifacts from various ancient civilizations, is a beacon for cooperation efforts in the field of archaeology.

An old man said, “We excavated in this area and we excavated in Salalah, but love is only for the first love. I felt nostalgic for this area, and I did not want to leave it. They wanted me to be the director of antiquities in the Al Baleed area, and I was offered to complete my doctoral studies in America, but I refused because my love for this area made me not want to leave it.”

He added, “The shape of the collapse at the site is the same as that told in the old stories that our fathers and grandfathers tell about the place, that this place collapsed and the castle also collapsed. From here, this was confirmed, and once it was confirmed, it was announced in all the means of communication and the global media, and they found pottery from the Greeks, China, Iraq and Yemen, all in this site.”

As Masen continues his work, he calls on the international community to lend its expertise and resources to uncover the hidden stories of the Shisr site.

An elderly man's passion for the site is clear. He told Reuters, “The site needs international missions as it still maintains its own mystery. It needs experts and a deep study to reveal the area.”

An old man added, “It's a feeling I can't describe… I love even the speck of dust in this place. This place is sacred and mythical to me.”