Bat Archaeological Project:
History of Research
The site of Bat has been known to archaeologists since the 1960s and has been the stage for multiple research projects over the years. Here you will find a timeline of archaeological work at the site, with emphasis on BAP's contributions from the project's inception in 2007 until the present.
Early Research
1964 – The archaeological remains at Bat are reported by Captain Anthony Witheridge of the Sultan's armed forces.
1974-1975 – Bat is surveyed by pioneering British archaeologist Beatrice de Cardi.
1972-1989 – Under the direction of Karen Frifelt, the Danish Archaeological Mission conducted the first excavations at the site.
UNESCO Inscription
1988 – Bat and its sister site Al-Ayn are inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in celebration of its exceptionally well preserved collection of third millennium BC settlement and mortuary monuments.
Bat Archaeological Project
2007
At the invitation of the Oman Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Bat Archaeological Project was established by Dr. Gregory Possehl of the University of Pennsylvania. Excavations target Operations A and B. Preliminary studies of towers al-Rojoom, al-Khafaji, Matariya, al-Seleme, and al-Khutm.
Field Staff:
Prof. Gregory Posselh (director)
Christopher Thornton (assistant director)
Charlotte Cable; Prathap Chandran; Terest Costa; Kevin Donaghy; Royal "Omar" Ghazal; Myles Mitchell; Adhiraj Parthasarathy; Brian Wilson
2008
Excavations target Operations A and B. Preliminary studies of towers al-Rojoom, al-Khafaji, Matariya, al-Seleme, and al-Khutm.
Field Staff:
Prof. Gregory Posselh (director)
Christopher Thornton (assistant director)
Charlotte Cable (field director)
Aubery Baadsgaard; Leslie Bosch; Teresa Costa; Brian Goldberger; Adhiraj Parthasarathy; Anjana Reddy; Hania Sosonwska; Prof. Uno Tako; Aram Yardumian
2009
Excavations target al-Khafaji and Matariya. Preliminary study of the Settlement Slope and al-Khutm tower. Systematic mapping of archaeological features.
Field Staff:
Prof. Gregory Posselh (director)
Christopher Thornton (assistant director)
Charlotte Cable (field director)
Robert Charles Bryant; Dr. Michael Boaks; David Bosch; Leslie Bosch; Teresa Costa; Prathap Chandran; Royal "Omar" Ghazal; Patty Hamrick; Farida Hussain; Yasuhisa Kondo; Smitha Kumar; Myles Mitchell; Jennifer Swerida
2010
Excavations target Matariya and al-Khafaji towers. Preliminary study of Tower 1156 at the Settlement Slope and Kasr al- Sleme. Preliminary
geomorphological study of the Bat landscape within the Wadi al-Sharsah.
Field Staff:
Prof. Gregory Posselh (director)
Dr. Christopher Thornton (deputy director)
Charlotte Cable (assistant director)
Marta Ameri; Prathap Chandran; Gabrielle Choimet; Teresa Costa; Dr. Stephane Desruelles; Ryan Douglass; Dr. Eric Fouache; Rebecca Gilmour; Ruth Hatfield; Yasuhisa Kondo; Smitha Kumar; Dr. Paul Rissman; Elizabeth Sessions; Stefan Smith; Jennifer Swerida; Gemma Tully
2011
Excavations target Matariya and Tower 1156 on the Settlement Slope. Geomorphological study of the Wadi al-Hijr continues. Preliminary survey of the Bat falaj system.
Field Staff:
Prof. Gregory Posselh (director)
Dr. Christopher Thornton (deputy director)
Charlotte Cable (assistant director)
Julien Charbonnier; Gabrielle Choimet; Cecilia Cammas; Wassel Eddargach; Prof. Eric Fouache; Rebecca Gilmour; Ruth Hatfield; Kristen Hopper; Dr. Yasuhia Kondo; Smitha Kumar; Benedict Leigh; Takehiro Miki; Anne Mortimer; Dr. Paul Rissman; Lars Rogenes; Dr. Margareta Tengberg; Julia Wattez; Amber Zambelli
2012
Excavations target Tower 1156 on the Settlement Slope. Preparation for the Bat Monograph.
Field Staff:
Dr. Christopher Thornton (co-director)
Dr. Yasuhisa Kondo (co-director)
Charlotte Cable (deputy director)
Ann Mortimer (field director); Anne Bomalaski; Takehiro Miki; Sarah Richie
2013
Excavations target domestic houses on the Settlement Slope.
Field Staff:
Dr. Christopher Thornton (co-director)
Dr. Yasuhisa Kondo (co-director)
Dr. Charlotte Cable (co-director)
Philippe Barthéremy; Dr. Roland Besenval; Tara Beuzen-Waller; Dr. Julien Charbonnier; Alexandra Conell; Dr. Remke van Dam; Dr. Stéphane Desruelles; Kaya Diker; Dr. Eric Fouache; Dr. Lesley Gregoricka; Kauthar al-Habsi; Kimberly Leaman Insua; Alex Kerr; Takehiro Miki; Atsushi Noguchi; Dr. Paul Rissman; Michelle Rogers; Jennifer Swerida; Yves Ubelmann; Dr. Kimberly Williams
2014
Excavations target al-Khafaji tower and the Settlement Slope.
Field Staff:
Dr. Christopher Thornton (co-director)
Dr. Charlotte Cable (co-director)
Dr. Ruth Young (co-director)
Jennifer Swerida (field director); Nicholas Ames; Owen Batchelor; Tara Beuzen-Waller; Dr. Cecilia Cammas; Katherine Dance; Dr. Stéphane Desruelles; Eli Dollarhide; Wassel Eddargach; Prof. Eric Fouache; James Green; Ruth Hatfield; Kristen Hopper; Angie Humes; Hannah Hunt; Alex Kerr; Aicha Mellah; Kate Morgan; Smiti Nathan; Kyle Olsen; Adil Riaz; Dr. Paul Rissman; Akshyeta Suryanarayan; Caitlin Syfrett; Dr. Shadia Taha; Bastian van Dalen; Elizabeth Velliky; Dr. Julia Wattez
2015
Excavations target al-Khafaji.
Field Staff:
Dr. Christopher Thornton (co-director)
Dr. Charlotte Cable (co-director)
Dr. Ruth Young (co-director)
Jennifer Swerida (assistant director)
Tara Beuzen-Waller; Guenever Bjerre Thaarup; Dr. Alasdair Brook; James Green; Reilly Jensen; Eli Dollarhide; Kaitlin McGuire; Smiti Nathan; Monica Neff; William Remsen; Dr. Paul Rissman; Caitlin Syfrett
2016
Excavations target al-Khafaji tower and the Settlement Slope.
Field Staff:
Dr. Christopher Thornton (co-director)
Jennifer Swerida (assistant director)
Eli Dollarhide (field director)
Dr. Paul Rissman