Monday, June 15, 2009

Mystery Graves


Dear Readers,
The Anonymous Dhofari Explorer and myself have been arguing about the location of the graveyard in the picture. An American photgrapher took this last summer when he was in Dhofar. Through a friend, I managed to get hold of the picture. However, I can't quite figure out where it is located. All I know is that it's somewhere past Mirbat towards the East of Dhofar.

Many of you have probably heard about the Dhofari researcher, Ali Ahmed Al Shahri, who has spent most of his adult life studying ancient cave writings all over Dhofar (in addition to other things such as graves, old sayings, traditions, languages, etc). I think he has published over four books. Amazing guy. Anyway, the book I own is his book on ancient cave writings published in 1994. Towards the end of the book, there is a chapter on graves in Dhofar. I found a picture of two gravestones very similar to the ones in this mysterious photo, but these two graves are location next to an old mosque in Mirbat. He says that the graveyards become more exciting and the carvings more detailed as you head East.

Dhofari Explorer and myself believe they are old Islamic graves judging from the writing on them. Has anyone seen this place before?

9 comments:

  1. Good morning Nadia

    Thank u for this topic, i beleive that such a graveyard is one of many graveyards in the region(Islamic and preislamic),.... what we need is an academic and archaeological studies instead of the general description.

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  2. well the photo is a bit difficult to judge, as its not showing much scenery; but possibly Mohammed bin Ali; Mirbat in the south east of the cemetery .

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  3. I thought so too, but others have argued that it's further East between Mirbat and Sadah. Thanks for the input.

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  4. I’m not certain that there is one between Mirbat and Sadh – Sadh’s graveyard does not have as many older graves as Mirbat’s

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  5. Announcement everyone! Oman Holidays wins! It is located in Mirbat (Mohammed bin Ali) and I ALMOST made it out there today but didn't quite make it. Dhofar Explorer managed to find more photographs and one picture of the graveyard taken from above shows that it is in Mirbat. Mystery Solved

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  6. good topic well done Nadia keep writing thanks alot.

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  7. Hi

    What does it say on the gravestones - is the same type of writing as in Al Baleed?

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  8. shame this thread is old. I was in Mirbat Friday looking at this graveyard searching for clues on the yemanis and British who died in 1072 (amongst knowing the importance of the tomb).

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  9. Yea, Ali Alshihri is a great guy, a company gives him a plane ticket to go to America and when he is on the camera the first thing he says in a happy voice is: thank you for paying for my ticket. hhhh this guy is a big joke.

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