Oman: The Treasure of Mudhmar

In the eastern Arabian desert, an ancient culture once thrived, a civilization about which we know almost nothing. Yet, all evidence suggests that it was as advanced as its neighbors in Mesopotamia and Iran. For a long time, the region’s extreme aridity and the weight of strict religious prohibitions discouraged archaeologists from exploring it. Today, however, a team of French scientists is conducting large-scale excavations in Oman. Their goal: to understand how this people managed to prosper in such a hostile environment by developing revolutionary water management technologies. Beyond this major technical achievement, this is a unique opportunity to uncover the way of life and the beliefs of this pre-Islamic culture.