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Museums
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Several museums are popular with Omani schoolchildren
and visitors to the Sultanate. The Omani Museum, established in
1974 at Medinat al -Ilam, has been renovated and is now distinguished
by massive wooden entrance door in the Omani tradition. The surroundings
have been improved and the layout of exhibits re-arranged and
expanded. In Muscat, the Omani-French Museum, which was the French
Consul's residence in 1896 has been restored to its former glory.
A museum in a modern setting is the Children's Museum, where children
can learn through 'hands-on' experience basic scientific principles.
The historic fort at Sohar also contains a museum and there are
plans to install exhibits in the Cultural Centre in Salalah.
One
of the most frequently visited museums, situated within the Ministry's
complex, is the Natural History Museum. In 1995, a fossils exhibit
was added as a National Day gift to the nation from PDO. This
museum, with its whale hall and displays of animals and birds,
has an educational purpose as well as being of interest to tourists.
Mention should also be made to two places appreciated by visitors
but not part of the Ministry: the Sultan's Armed Forces Museum
at Bait al -Falaj and the permanent Oil and Gas exhibition at
Mina al-Fahal.
In
1998, the total museum attendance was 95,735. The highest attendance,
37,496,was recorded by the Children's Museum. In
1998, Bait al-Zubair, one of the historic houses in Muscat, was
opened to the public after extensive renovation by its owner at
his own expense. Displays inside the building include collections
of jewellery, weaponry, cosmetics and clothing collected from
all over Oman. A small entry fee is charged for this privately
run and staffed exhibition.
| Exhibitions
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The
Ministry has organised numerous exhibitions at home and abroad
over the years. It organised or participated in more that 29 events
in 1998, ranging from bookfairs to cultural displays. In February
1998, a fine display of archaeological finds was exhibited at
the Qurum Cultural Club. Oman participated in the Spanish 'Expo'
and in 1994 and 1995 held a 'Sea and Forts' exhibition at L'Institut
du Monde Arabe in Paris. In October 1995, in accordance with the
wishes of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, an Omani Cultural Exhibition
was held at the Congress Building in Washington. It was organised
by the Diwan of Royal Court in conjunction with the Ministry of
National Heritage & Culture and the Ministry of Information.
In 1996, the Ministry participated in exhibitions in the United
States, UK, France, Belgium, Italy, Egypt, Morocco, Abu Dhabi
as well as in local cultural events and displays.In
April 1997, the Ministry organised an Omani cultural exhibition
in Tehran, which displayed the historic links between Oman and
Iran and strengthened ties between the two countries.
| Forts
& Castles |
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One
of the major achievements of the Ministry has been the restoration
of over 100 historic forts and castles, most of which are now
open to the public as some of Oman's foremost tourist attractions.
The painstaking restoration was carried out to preserve a precious
and unique part of Oman's heritage, but the time and money spent
has been well repaid by the international interest shown in the
project. Work continues at Bahla, which has been listed as a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Ministry recorded a total of 169,440
visitors to forts and castles during 1998. In view of the interest
shown by the tourists in these historic sites, the Ministry has
been running courses in English and giving lectures to Omani guides
and staff responsible for the forts and castles open to the public.
The
restoration of Oman's historic buildings has been carried out
with Moroccan expertise under an agreement in 1983. There are
many other fine buildings worthy of preservations, such as the
more modest 19th Century Bait Nasib Khan in Muttrah (now known
as Bait al-Turath) which was for many years used by the British
Council and is now the headquarters of the Historical Association
of Oman.
| Archeology
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Oman
has numerous important archeological sites, many of which are
still being excavated during the winter season. In 1997, no less
than 68 ancient sites were identified in the northern part of
Jebel Qara in Dhofar. A German team has been investigating the
fort at Nizwa, while French and Italian archaeologists have found
evidence at Ras-al Junaiz to support the theory found in Greek
and Latin writings that Oman traded with India, Mesopotamia and
East Africa 3000 years ago. Past discoveries at Ras al-Hamra,
Bat, Sohar, and other sites have shed interesting and invaluable
light on Oman's early civilizations. The rediscovery of the ancient
city of Ubar in the sands on the edge of the Empty Quarter in
Dhofar was made possible in 1992 thanks to satellite technology.
The Ministry, with the help of a French archaeologist, has prepared
a map of all the most important archaeological sites in the Sultanate.
| Traditional
Crafts |
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The
Ministry is responsible for preserving Oman's arts and crafts.
In 1986, a traditional pottery was opened in Bahla and a textile
weaving workshop in Sumail. Young Omanis are encouraged to learn
and keep alive ancient skills, such as precious metalworks and
woodcarving. At Sur, shipbuilding in the traditional manner can
be still be seen to this day. Many of the magnificent old wooden
ships have disappeared, but the people of Sur have preserved a
220-tonne vessel, the "Fateh al-Khair", on dry land.
| The
voyage of the 'Sohar' |
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It
was at Sur that the replica of an ocean-going Omani sailing ship
was built in 1980 to sail to Guangzhou (Canton). After its epic
voyage, the "Sohar" was brought back to Oman and is
preserved on land near the al-Bustan Palace Hotel. In 1995, to
mark the Silver Jubilee, a monument was constructed in Guangzhou
(Canton) commemorating the Voyage of the "Sohar" and
the historic links between Oman and China.
| Natural
History |
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Since
1985, when the first phase of the Natural History Museum was opened,
there has been growing interest in Oman's wildlife heritage and
natural environment. Visitors to the museum have steadily increased
each year from 11,000 in 1986 to just over 30,000 in 1996. In
1997, a record 31,318 people visited the museum. In 1998, the
total number of visitors was 30,832. Schools and Omani families
accounted for nearly two-thirds of the visitors, while tourists
and expatriate residents made up the remainder.
The
diversity of Oman's wildlife is shown in dioramas, displaying
24 mammals, 59 birds, 30 reptiles and hundreds of seashells and
insects. A National Herbarium has been established, as well as
a botanic garden of Omani trees and shrubs. For the scientists,
the museum maintains a wealth of study collections of flora and
fauna from Oman. The museum has close links with Sultan Qaboos
University and allied scientific institutions in the Arabian Gulf
and abroad.
In
1997, the fossilised bones of a dinosaur were uncovered at al-Khoudh.
It was identified as being from the species Dinosauria Saurishia
Theropod, a plant eating dinosaur about 8m long and 4 - 5m tall
which lived 65 million years ago.
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