Copper mining has been in existence in various locations centred
around Wadi Jizzi for over 4000 years. Over 32 ancient copper
smelting sites have been identified in the immediate area, and
open-cast mines, abandoned only decades ago, can be visited in
Lusail, Arja and Baida (see Lusail Copper Mine Earthcache:
GC236AK). Even today mining is continuing as witnessed by a
large operational copper-smelting plant some 25 km from Sohar,
along the brand-new Sohar - Buraimi highway. In the early years of
copper extraction the ore was principally exported to the centre of
civilization at that time: the Mesopotamian kingdoms such as the
Chaldeans of Ur. Their religious expressions were centred on
stepped pyramids or ziggurats, the remains of which can still be
visited in present day Iraq and Iran. The earliest pyramids in
Egypt were also ziggurats, but the Egyptians soon learned how to
clad their pyramids resulting in the well-known smooth-sided
pyramids such as in Giza.
There is one, and only one, ziggurat in the whole of the Arabian
peninsula: in Arja, very near to the ancient copper mines of Arja
and Baida. Apparently when the first pre-historic mining engineers
were sent by their Mesopotamian masters to develop copper mines in
Oman, they took their favourite design for a place of worship along
with them and constructed a miniature ziggurat next to their work
place. The ziggurat in Arja consists of two stepped platforms and
has a clearly recognisable processional ramp aligned with what was
believed at that time to be the seat of the Gods, a conspicuous
black mountain visible on the other side of the ziggurat. Ruins of
various accompanying buildings can also be recognised along-side,
when standing on top of the ziggurat.
The cache is a regular lock-and-lock lunch box camouflaged in a
sand-coloured sock. The cache is hidden in such a way that it can
be accessed without having to move any stone, so please heed the
sign next to the ziggurat: do not move any stones or damage in any
way this pre-historic structure while searching for the cache! The
cache contains a note-book and pencil, along with small items of
swag. There is enough space to harbour some travel-bugs.
To reach the cache turn off the Sohar - Buraimi highway at the
location given below onto a asphalt road leading directly past the
entrance of the large copper-smelting plant, recognisable from
quite a distance away by the large smoke-stack belching exhaust
fumes into the air. Keep on driving on this road until reaching the
cache location. When coming from Buraimi one can take the fly-over
bridge leading to the smelting plant at the location below.
Please help to keep the location in a pristine condition. Leave
only your signature and take any trash along with you! As always
take care when searching for the cache, snakes and scorpions love
sheltering from the hot sun in rocky areas which offer some
shade.
The 'First to Find' geocacher was Sheep n Jeep, on 12 February
2010, who was rewarded with an unregistered geocoin. Happy hunting
and enjoy this exceptional site!