discovering the heart of Oman

Salut Museum

EUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL - UNIVERSITA' DI PISA

Home / Publications and Insights / Papers / Funerary Archaeology at Salut / Grave 4

Grave 4

Photogallery

Grave 4 at the beginning of the work, following the removal of surface deposit (IMTO archive).

Grave 4 and the two nearby sub-circular grave G5 and G7 during the excavations (IMTO archive).

Orthophoto of G4 at the end of the excavation. G5 and G7 are also visible (IMTO archive).

JS4_GRAVE 4
 
Located on the slope of Jabal Salut, Grave 4 is a Wadi Suq grave with a peculiar architecture, specifically for what concerns the interred part. In fact, the overall round chamber was turned into a C-shaped sort of corridor by the presence of a central plinth, protruding from the circular perimeter walls.
The perimeter walls and the plinth itself show a slightly cantilevered layout; this provided support for a flat flagstone cover. The perimeter wall of the chamber was (in its above-ground part) double-faced, with a rough stone and rubble core. An outer, concentric wall was also originally present, of which only a limited part survives. This latter wall only had one outer face, and the void between this and the chamber’s wall outer face was filled with rubble and rough stones. Scanty human remains and grave goods were discovered inside the chamber.
 
Among the finds, worth of mention is a Wadi Suq cup, made in a fine fabric. The decoration consist in two black painted horizontal lines just below the rim.
In the reshuffled fills of the grave an almost complete deep bowl with vertical rim, made in a fine fabric with burnished surface, typical of the Early Iron Age III period, was discovered. This highlights the impact of post-decay intrusions on the tomb’s preservation.
 
Beads comprise almost only different types than those found inside Grave 3, with the exception of four shell beads (F2). No stone bead was discovered. Conversely, five beads were made of glass or glass paste (F3, F5), although one could also be made of light blue glazed clay (F4). Unique cases are those of a small complete shell used a bead (F13) and of a copper-base bead with a very large hole (F14).

Salut Museum
ERC - EUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL
UNIVERSITA’ DI PISA