MUSCAT (MEMO) – Archaeologists have discovered a stone game board in Oman believed to be over 4,000 years old. The joint Polish-Omani team found the rare item at the site of an ancient settlement in the sultanate’s Qumayrah Valley. Located near the village of Ayn Bani Saidah, the find was described as “the most exciting and unexpected find ever” according to the Polish Center for Mediterranean Archaeology (CAŚ) at the University of Warsaw. As part of the study, researchers identified an ancient settlement from the so-called Umm al-Nar period (2500-2000BC), where they unearthed remnants of large circular towers and Bronze Age structures.
The discoveries were made last month and in addition to the stone game board, evidence was also found of copper smelting.