Tiwi Al Obaila in Al Buraimi Governorate was an important site for the mining of copper ore

Mahda: Tiwi Al Obaila site in the wilayat of Mahda, Al Buraimi Governorate, was one of the important sites for the mining of copper ore. Copper ore extracted from the mines was filtered and smelted in furnaces to produce copper alloys.

Humaid bin Rashid Al Zaidi, Director of Heritage and Tourism Department in Al Buraimi Governorate, said that the site dates back between the 9th to the 15th century, with evidence of presence of a village or seasonal workshop attended by people for the production of copper.

There is no evidence of permanent settlement of people at the site, he added.

He said that the site hosts 16 furnaces of different sizes and the remains of copper slag can still be found on inner surfaces of the furnaces and remains of bronze, which shows the use of the site for a long period, he said.

The presence of these furnaces shows the evidence of production of copper in Oman in ancient times , due to the quality of copper produced and the need of other countries for use of copper in the manufacture of weapons and tools, he said.

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has worked on registration of the site as an approved heritage site and

Erected many warning boards for protection of the site, he said, adding that the site is a favoured destination for visitors who love heritage sites.