Beneath an unforgiving sun that could rival a barbecue’s scorching heat, archaeologists meticulously scanned the rugged terrain of a mountain landscape in Oman.

As far as the eye could see, the landscape was dominated by rocks—ranging from minuscule to massive, presenting hues of brown, gray, and dull red-brown.

Yet, amidst this seemingly arid expanse, the mountains harbored numerous secrets—dozens of them, to be precise.

This archaeological expedition unfolded in the Qumayrah valley, forming part of an extensive research initiative conducted by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw, as outlined in a news release on Feb. 12.

Over the course of the past year, the surveys conducted by the archaeologists unveiled more than 50 sets of ruins dispersed across ten ancient settlements, the Miami Herald reported.

These ruins, spanning an age range from approximately 2,300 to over 4,000 years old, showcased the historical richness of the region.

The oldest among them were stone towers and tombs dating back to the early Bronze Age, a period commonly referred to as the Umm an-Nar period, spanning from 2600 B.C. to 2000 B.C., according to the archaeologists.

Written by B.C. Begley