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THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF OMAN
P.O.BOX 3941, CODE 112, RUWI
Website: www.hao.org.om
M/ships: 24563074 Tom Vosmer is a maritime archaeologist specialising in ancient and historical ships of the western Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf. He has supervised the building of several ship reconstructions including Tim Severin’s Sohar which sailed from Oman to China in 1980. He has spent 12 years researching traditional boats of Oman. |
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Thu 19 Feb 2009, 07:30 AM | Posted by: webmaster : ÈÜæÇÓÜØÜÉ
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THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF OMAN
PO BOX 3941, CODE 112, RUWI
Website: www.hao.org.om
Telno (M/ships): 24563074
PROGRAMME – JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009
First of all, the HAO Committee would like to wish you a peaceful year 2009. --------------- Trip – Weekend : 19th/20th February 2009
Visit to the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary at Jaaluni, courtesy of the Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court.
This trip will involve the following:
• An interesting trip to see this beautiful animal.
• An introductory talk by one of the Omani botanists at the Sanctuary.
• An early start (ie around 0600 hours) on Thursday 19th from Muscat.
• Overnight camping at a designated spot near the Oryx.
• A guided tour into the desert by a local Omani guide.
• Only 4 vehicles (4 x 4wd)
Annual General Meeting – This will be held either on Monday 16th February or on Monday 16th March. Details to be announced later.
Walk - Thursday 22nd January – See attached details.
CALENDAR 2010 – we suggest you start clicking now. The theme: we would like to celebrate is His Majesty’s 40th anniversary.
For the first half of the calendar we propose ordinary people/traditions e.g. fisherman casting a traditional net/fishing in a traditional boat, a bee-keeper, a farmer, a craftsman/woman etc etc And for the second half of the calendar we would like to feature the modern-day. It may be – if we receive sufficient images – that we will combine two photographs (ie one traditional/one modern) to represent one month.
We will seek your images end-June 2009.
Doc:HAO.Pro.2009.Jan
APPLICATION for VISIT TO ARABIAN ORYX SANCTUARY
Thursday 19th and Friday 20th February 2009
This application to be received by – 2100 hours on Wednesday llth February
======================================================
I (Name) ………………………………………….
Membership No: ………… would like to apply for a place on the above trip.
Approx age group: 2l-35 : 36-50 : 51+
I would prefer to * (delete as appropriate) to drive my own vehicle/be a passenger.
Details are:
Contact telno: ……………. Preferred times to contact me: ……………
My 4-wheel drive vehicle details:
Make and Model: ………………………….
Colour: ………………………… Registration No:…………………
I can take ….. passengers + camping equipment.
Queries: Please submit this Application to Ros Piper (Committee member) Email: madeinoman@gmail.com by 2100 hours llth February 2009
Native Plants walk next Thu 22 Jan 9.00
Dear All
It is perhaps time we burnt off some of that Xmas/Eid inertia, so I propose we re-investigate the Wadi Kabir to Muscat Dam walk through the hills downhill along the Wadi Saghir.
The walk lasts about 3 hours and with recent rain may have some surprises.
There may easily be some quite wet bits along the way. We emerge from hills into Muscat, where 2-3 nominated cars will have been placed for the drive back to the Wadi Kabir start point and the main group of cars. You cannot drop out half-way! It is not a circular walk.
This walk used to be a favourite among walkers. However, a recce reveals that the first ten to fifteen minutes' gentle climb on stones and rock, is now rather awkward due to an ugly new scrapyard which has gouged out a good part of the hill. We need to very briefly cross the boundary of the scrapyard premises and skirt the fence; I have talked to the owner, Issam, who seems quite amenable. The main access to this walk should not be lost to the future.
We will rendezvous at the forecourt of Family Bookshop in Qurum at 8.45. We then drive together in convoy to Wadi Kabir (Incense burner) Roundabout, and turn left there. This is the turn which leads to the large area for car repair/workshops at Wadi Kabir.
Participation is free and open to all; those interested should email me (not phone please, though I am on 95034511 for last minute emergencies), and will receive in return a target list of native plants for this area. Bring a pencil. Good shoes are needed. We will park at the foot of the hill.
I look forward to it very much, as well as your company.
Future walks may include: Riam-Muttrah hill walk; Al Khodh-Fanja wadi walk; Airport Heights 3-hour walk (near 'cock' rock despite new road construction); all depending on demand and weather. Dates of these events are TBC.
thanks
Clive Winbow
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Thu 3 Apr 2008, 11:40 AM | Posted by: webmaster : ÈÜæÇÓÜØÜÉ
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PROGRAMME – TRIP on THURSDAY 3rd APRIL 2008
Morning trip to see the old buildings of Imti and Izki, led by Ali al Mahrouqi (Archaeologist with the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, and also HAO Committee
member).
As you will see on your map, Imti is an archaeological site on the right-hand side of the road just before Izki.
There was once an active trade route through Izki to the regions of Dakhiliya, Sharqiya and Dhahirah. The archaic landmarks of this wilayat stand as witnesses to its old age and history. They consist of over 100 towers and several citadels of which the best known is Al Awamir Fort. The Al Maliki falaj is listed as one of five on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. This falaj is said to have been established by Malik bin Fahm, the pre-Islamic leader of the first wave of Uzd tribes migrating from the Yemen.
Reserve your place (limited to HAO members only) – please telephone Ros Piper on
GSM 92361890 (latest by 10.00 am on Wednesday 2nd April 2008)
• Thursday 3rd April – 7.55 am (ready to leave at 8.00 am)
Meet in the Rusail complex car park behind Al Sahwa roundabout, i.e. near the
Bellapais restaurant.
• This is expected to be a 3-hour trip.
• Picnic lunch is optional.
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FUTURE EVENTS:
Lecture – we hope to arrange a lecture for Monday 28th April. Details will be circulated later.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Names and contact details of those members who were elected to the Committee at the Annual General Meeting held on Monday 3rd March will be circulated soon. |
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Thu 28 Feb 2008, 11:42 AM | Posted by: webmaster : ÈÜæÇÓÜØÜÉ
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H.A.O. CALENDAR 2009
We are pleased to inform our members that the Committee would like to depict scenes of the old settlement quarters, al Harat al Qadeem, in our 2009 Calendar.
Examples of these might be old Manah, the old part of Nizwa, Misfah al Arbyeen and there are 100s more around the Sultanate of Oman.
Photographs should be horizontal and of high-quality (suggest minimum 5 pixels) suitable for offset printing.
Please also invite your friends and colleagues to ‘get clicking’.
RO20.000 is paid for each photograph chosen for the calendar.
Closing date for sending entries to the Committee will be end-May 2008.
PROGRAMME – TRIP on 28th FEBRUARY 2008
Day trip to see the archaeological sites at Bisya and Sallout, led by Ali al Mahrouqi (Archaelogist with the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, and also HAO Committee member).
The Al Hajar Project has identified at its 10 sq.km multi-period site at Bisya in the Wadi Bahla, three distinct and unrelated types of built archaeological assemblage. Founded and directed by Jeffery and Jocelyn Orchard, the Al Hajar Project (formerly the University of Birmingham Archaeological Expedition to the Sultanate of Oman) first began its research in Oman in 1980.
The Sallout site is being excavated by an Italian team of archaeologists.
Members will meet the experts at both of the above sites.
Reserve your place (limited to HAO members only) – please telephone Ros Piper on
GSM 92361890 (latest by 10.00 am on Tuesday 26th February 2008)
• Thursday 28th February – 07.55 am (ready to leave at 08.00 am)
Meet in the car park behind Al Sahwa roundabout.
• Traditional lunch (chicken, fish, salad) at the newly developed Heritage Village, near Bahla – cost RO5.000 per person.
• Accommodation also available at the Heritage Village – telephone Hamed al Hashmi on 99318014.
************************************************************************
Date for your diary:
Annual General Meeting – Monday 3rd March – 7.30 pm at the PDO Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre and Planetarium. Lecture details: not finalised |
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We are pleased to announce the following:
Monday 14th January – Lecture entitled “Changing Climates in Southern Arabia during the past 300 ka” by visiting Professor Albert Matter, Professor Emeritus at the University of Bern, Switzerland from where he received his PhD in geology with a dissertation in clastic sedimentlogy.
Abstract: Alternating arid and wet phases have characterized the climate of southern Arabia at least since the Pleistocene as a result of monsoonal influence. We demonstrate that detailed climatic information can be gained from stalagmites and aerolian and lacustrine sediments.
Time/Venue: 8.00 pm at the PDO Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre and Planetarium
Thursday 3lst January - Visit the old village of Fanja with Ali al Mahrooqi (Archaeologist and Committee member) and Hilal al Siyabi (ex-Committee member).
Meet: 3.00 pm in the car park by Spicy Village, Burj al Sahwa roundabout
Bring: A bottle of water and walking shoes – expect to finish around 5.30 pm.
New - The Faisal bin Ali al Said Museum was opened on 7th January. It contains a
permanent exhibition of traditional weaponry (eg. khanjars, swords) in the Sultanate, as well
as a spacious gallery with a panel exhibition on the fortified architecture of Oman.
Location: The Ministry of Heritage and Culture complex in Al Khuwair. It’s open
only from 0800-1400 hours Saturday to Wednesday, but no fees at present payable.
“Journal of Oman Studies” – Keep a look out for Volume 14 which is to be issued soon –
it features the Prehistoric Graveyard of Ras al Hamra 5, Muscat.
The Environment Society of Oman invites HAO members to their next lecture:
Saturday 12th January – “Impact of the Environment on Women’s Health” by Dr Shyam Lall, Head of the Poison Control Centre, Ministry of Health.
The PDO Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre and Planetarium doors open at 7.00 pm with the lecture session starting at 7.30 pm.
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We are pleased to announce the following:
Thursday 22nd November – TRIP to Adam (Trips are for members only)
0800 hours : Meet in car park of Bellapais Restaurant, near Sahwa/clock tower roundabout.
This trip suitable for all types of vehicles. Bring plenty of water.
Ros Piper will be coordinating this trip at this first stage – queries to GSM 92361890.
1000 hours : Reach Sinaw, take refreshments and rendezvous with Ali al Mahrouqi.
See Sinaw souq, followed by Ali leading members around the old Harah settlement.
Midday-1300 hours : En route Adam, stop for picnic lunch (bring your own).
1500 hours : Arrive at Guest house in Adam, or camping area
Please telephone Ali on 99358303 to reserve your room at the Guest house.
1600 hours : Traditional horse-racing and equestrian activities in Adam.
1830 hours : BBQ dinner provided by Ali. Cost RO3.000 per person
Note: Any member and/or friends may visit the horse-racing events independently at 1600 hours.
Friday 23rd November –
0630 hours : Camel racing/training
0730 hours : Breakfast at Guest house
0800 hours : Meet Ali al Mahrouqi for tour of Harah settlement
1030 hours : Drive back to Muscat
Monday 3rd December – LECTURE (all are welcome)
2000 hours : July 23rd 2007 saw the inauguration by His Highness Sayyid Haitham of a new museum in Salalah. The museum showcases the broad history of Oman, as well as its maritime heritage, through displays of archaeological artefacts, dioramas, videos and models.
Hassan Al-Jabri and Tom Vosmer, who were both pivotally involved in the creation of the museum, will present an illustrated lecture on the background of the museum project and an overview of what the public can expect to see and learn on a visit to the Museum of the Frankincense Land.
Venue: PDO Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre and Planetarium.
HAO Calendar 2008
Now available at various outlets, including the Family Bookshop, priced at RO1.000 each. However, at our meetings, members can buy 12 calendars for only RO10.000.
Make a note in your diary:
1. Monday 14th January – Lecture entitled “Changing Climates in Southern Arabia during the past 300 ka” by visiting Professor Albert Matter, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland.
2. Trips: Fanja (January); Nizwa & Bahla (February); Izki (March) and
the Jabal al Akdhar (April)
BOOKS – NOW AVAILABLE in the Family Bookshop:
“Sons of Sindbad” by Alan Villiers. Classic account of the Arabian dhow. Describes the crew, passengers and cargo, merchants and smugglers, and the people of the various ports from Aden, Mukalla, Zanzibar and the Rufiji delta to Matrah. First published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1940. Reprinted by Arabian Publishing in 2006. 404 pp. 50 b/w photographs. ISBN-10: 0-9544792-3-9 ISBN-13: 978-0-9544792-3-7
“Sons of Sindbad: The photographs” by Alan Villiers. A handsome new companion volume to the above. Both describe the voyage which Villiers took in 1938-39. Published in 2006 by National Maritime Museum London, in association with Arabian Publishing. Large format hardback. 164 b/w photographs, 12 maps etc. ISBN: 0-948065-73-7.
Doc: HAO.Pro.2007.Nov.Dec |
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BOOKS (see Feature in the “Oman Daily Observer” newspaper on 7th November):
“In the Heart of the Desert” by Quentin Morton. This book recounts the exploits of Quentin’s father, Mike Morton, in the Middle East as a field geologist with the Iraq Petroleum Co from 1945-1971, including his times in Oman. Includes some very interesting photographs of time in the Sultanate.
See the website of the publishers www.greenmountainpress.co.uk
HAO Calendar 2007:
This calendar depicts various aspects of the costumes of the Sultanate, and has been designed by the Oman Dress Project. This will be available mid-end November. Keep a look out for this interesting calendar which is particularly useful as regards dates of Islamic Holy Days in the Sultanate of Oman. Price: RO1.000 each. We apologise for the delay in printing this year – but can assure our members that the calendar is worth waiting for!
…continued
NATURE RESERVES:
In April the Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources (MRMEWR) issued two Ministerial Decisions, restricting visits to the turtle reserve at Ras al Jinz and to the Daymaniyat Islands, as follows. These Decisions will come into effect 100% in 2007, but meanwhile if you are contemplating camping at either – please contact the Director-General of Nature Conservation on email: alialkiyumi@hotmail.com or by telephone 24602558/24602258
Decision No. 55/2006 restricts entry to the turtle reserve, camping there or staying overnight without the prior written approval of MRMEWR. The Decision also states that camping is allowed in the reserve for a maximum of 80 people at the places specified by the Ministry. The driving speed limit has been set at 50kph and driving on the beach is prohibited. Entry is RO1.000 per person for visiting only, plus RO3.000 for each camper.
Decision No. 56/2006 amends Ministerial Decision No. 112/2000 and is related to restricting entry onto the Daymaniyat Islands. The Decision restricts entry onto the sanctuary without prior written approval of MRMEWR. Camping is allowed for a maximum of 12 persons, or a maximum of 5 tents at places specified by the Ministry. The decision also prohibits camping in the sanctuary between May and October, ie the period of nesting. Visitors are, however, allowed to dive in the area during this period.
TRIPS: If any of our members feel able to organise an interesting trip, please contact a member of the Committee, or send an e-mail to the sender of this Programme. Thank you. |
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We are pleased to announce the following trip:
Thursday 3rd May
Trip – late afternoon : One of our members, Abdulla al Riyami, has a family business making the famous Omani halwa (sweet) in Sumail. He has kindly invited HAO members to share in the making of his family recipe. We would be leaving Muscat at approx. 2.00 pm, and returning around 7.30 pm. We also hope to see the fort and various other places of interest during our visit to this area. Nos. limited. Contact email: wardah@omantel.net.om
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BOOKS (as mentioned in Bulletin No.12 of the Society for Arabian Studies www.societyforarabianstudies.org):
“Sons of Sindbad” by Alan Villiers. Classic account of the Arabian dhow. Describes the crew, passengers and cargo, merchants and smugglers, and the people of the various ports from Aden, Mukalla, Zanzibar and the Rufiji delta to Matrah. First published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1940. Reprinted by Arabian Publishing in 2006. 404 pp. 50 b/w photographs. ISBN-10: 0-9544792-3-9 ISBN-13: 978-0-9544792-3-7
“Sons of Sindbad: The photographs” by Alan Villiers. A handsome new companion volume to the above. Both describe the voyage which Villiers took in 1938-39. Published in 2006 by National Maritime Museum London, in association with Arabian Publishing. Large format hardback. 164 b/w photographs, 12 maps etc. ISBN: 0-948065-73-7.
“Wilfred Thesiger: The life of the great explorer”. Alexander Maitland has produced an excellent survey of Thesiger’s life and times based on his many discussions with him about his life and travels. Published by Harper Collins in 2006. 528 pp. Hardback. ISBN 0002556081.
And, finally – those members who remember a fascinating talk last year by Michael Quentin Morton (geologist) will be interested to know that he has this year published a second edition of his book “In the Heart of the Desert”. This contains seven additional photographs.
HAO Calendar 2008
Get clicking! We would like to remind all our members (and friends) of our theme for the HAO calendar 2008 – this will be “Traditional buildings of Oman - preservation is part of our heritage”. Closing date for CDs or prints is: Thursday 7th June 2007.
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We are pleased to confirm the following programme:
Monday 2nd April – 8.00 pm
An illustrated talk entitled “Planet Earth – the Early Years” to be given by Professor Hugh Rollinson, Head of the Earth Sciences Department at Sultan Qaboos University.
Venue: PDO Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre
Monday 16th April – 8.00 pm
An illustrated talk entitled “Omani-Dutch Relations during the Ya’rubi Dynasty, 1624-1744” by Dr Mohammed bin Saad al Muqadam, Asst. Professor, Department of History, Sultan Qaboos University.
Venue: PDO Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre
OTHER EVENTS:
Geological Society of Oman Lecture – Tuesday 27th March.
“Application of Stratigraphic Forward Modeling to Carbonate Strat – Uses for Exploration and Production” by Dr George Warrlich of PDO.
Venue: PDO Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre. Reception: 7.00 pm Lecture: 7.30 pm
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HAO Calendar 2008
Get clicking! We would like to remind all our members (and friends) of our theme for the HAO calendar 2008 – this will be “Traditional buildings of Oman - preservation is part of our heritage”. We hope to represent all areas of the Sultanate. The 1st week of June 2007 will be our deadline for asking you to submit your images.
Doc: HAO.Pro.2007.April |
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Tuesday 7th November at 1930 hours.
Venue: PDO Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre and Planetarium
This will be a joint talk - Geological Society of Oman/HAO entitled “In the Heart of the Desert” - The story of an exploration geologist in the search for oil in Oman in the 1940s and 1950s.
The speaker will be Quentin Morton.
This talk will be based on a book of the same title. It recounts Mike Morton’s exploits in the Middle East as a field geologist with the Iraq Petroleum Co from 1945-1971, and particularly his times in the Sultanate. www.greenmountainpress.co.uk are the publishers.
There will be light snacks after this talk provided by the Geological Society of Oman.
Monday 20th November at 2000 hours
Venue: PDO Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre and Planetarium
“SHARING FALAJ WATER – the use of stars”
An illustrated talk by Harriet Nash on the use of stars for timing the allocation of water in traditional irrigations systems (aflaj). Harriet is a hydrogeologist and PhD research student at the University of Leeds, UK, Department of Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies.
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Wednesday 22nd November at 1900 hours
Venue: Centre Franco-Omanais, Al Inshirah Street, Medinat Qaboos
“SPATIAL ORGANISATION of the TRADITIONAL ARAB CITY (XVI-XVIIITH centuries)”
An illustrated talk by Andre Raymond, specialist French researcher on the Arab and Muslim world. This talk will be in English with French summaries.
This is a joint event - Historical Association of Oman/Embassy of France.
Refreshments will be provided by the French mbassy.
The Centre Franco-Omanais is located in Bldg No.207 on Al Inshirah Street( which runs parallel to the dual carriageway) on the right side of the road going from the British Council to the Madina Art Gallery. We suggest members allow plenty of time for parking in this area. |
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:: PROGRAMME for NOVEMBER 2006 ::
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