Al Qanaif: A village of 200 stone houses a reminder of resilience

Photos by Ibrahim al Busaidi

To enjoy Oman as a country, one should have natural inclination and fascination for its long history. While the country offers many beautiful natural wonders, it is history that provide it context and meaning.

Each region in Oman hides many old villages that tell amazing stories about how the ancient people lived. If one studies these discoveries well, one can tell that all throughout its long history, Omani families ensured to create a comfortable life for their community using materials found around them and mother nature gifted them with.

One of the stunning villages in Oman is the village of Al Qanaif in Lima, Khasab, in Musandam Governorate. It is one of the most important discoveries that is preserved to this day, its historical features still being enjoyed not just by experts studying in the filed of archaeology but even by the people.

Al Qanaif village reflects the life that ancient people were accustomed to during the past decades preceding the age of the blessed Renaissance, where they endured harsh conditions that are completely not similar to those of the other villages around.

One who sees this village finds it firmly established on a semi-rocky slope surrounded by large trees from all sides, with narrow lanes and small houses paved with the hands of its residents from Lima.

Ahmed al Shehi, a Lima resident, said that they still have fond memory of the archaeological village of Al Qanaif, which flourished in their childhood, as monuments that are still lofty despite the circumstances that led to the abandonment of its landmarks more than 50 years ago.

He shared that the village has consisted of more than 200 houses made of stone and unique built as these dwellings were made to face the rain flowing from the mountains in addition to the wadis surrounding Lima at the time. It has all the facilities, there are basements, water basins, storage areas for dates, wheat and fish of all kinds, and other facilities such as mosques and a sitting area for the council for the people of the village. It was created by the people to be a fortified shield in the face of the harsh conditions. They also created hidden roads known only to the residents of the village.

The village tower is one of the most recognisable structure in the village. It has stood tall in the face of threats that the village received from time to time, especially those coming from the sea. While it still battles the elements to this day, the tower together with what remains of the old village is a testament to the ingenuity of the Omanis and while it has already been abandoned, it serve as a great reminder that the people of Al Qanaif can withstand any hardship.