Monday 18 / November / 2024
FALAJ AL BUZAILI at Al Buzaili Village in the Wilayat of Dhank, Al Dhahirah Governorate is located some 30 kilometres from the centre of the Wilayat of Dhank. It is one of the oldest and most famous Aflaj, established during the era of the State of Al Ya’ariba (The Ya’rubid Dynasty) during the rule of Imam Saif bin Sultan Al Ya’arubi.
Dr. Abdullah bin Said Al Ghafri, Professor of the UNESCO Chair on Aflaj Studies at the University of Nizwa said that the Falaj of Al Buzaili was constructed on a spacious fertile land at the village. He also pointed to the probability that the area was once where the wadis had plenty of water.
The Falaj was of great importance to Oman at the time as it is one of the largest Aflaj in terms of cultivated area and it irrigated almost 400 hectares, where people grew oats, wheat, vegetables, beans and farm crops.
He said that the Falaj was constructed during the second half of the 17th century and continued up to the rule of Al Ya’ariba. He also pointed out that some of the old tunnels of the Falaj are present till today. Dr. Ghafri also said that the source of the Falaj was some seven kilometres from the Wilayat of Dhank and was used for irrigation of the farms for almost eighty years.
He also pointed to the presence of a number of facilities and other archaeological pieces close to the Falaj, which were probably a residence for the people supervising the Falaj or were stores for the crops. He also pointed at the presence of the remains of old pottery items and stone items in the area.
