Archaeologists were surprised by a 4000-year-old find discovered in Oman

Sensational discovery: 4000-year-old ancient cymbals found in Oman

Archaeologists have made an amazing discovery in the Sultanate of Oman, finding a musical instrument that is about four millennia old, reports Fox News.

During excavations of the ancient settlement of Dahwa, scientists came across a pair of copper discs, which after detailed examination turned out to be ancient cymbals - a percussion musical instrument. Specialists dated the find to the period between 2200 and 2000 BCE.

The discovered round plates are absolutely identical, with a diameter of 138 millimeters. In the center of each is a characteristic relief elevation with a small hole. The astonishingly thin walls of the plates - only 1.5-2 millimeters - testify to the incredible craftsmanship of ancient metallurgists. Despite corrosion and partial fusion over four millennia, the artifacts have been preserved in exceptionally good condition.

Archaeologist Khaled Douglas emphasizes the uniqueness of the find for the entire region. According to him, this discovery forces a reconsideration of existing scientific theories about the origin and evolution of musical instruments in the Middle East.

Researchers believe that the ancient cymbals could have been used in religious rituals and temple ceremonies. The find indicates the significant role of music in cultural interactions between ancient civilizations of the Persian Gulf.

Scientists note the special value of this discovery, as ancient musical instruments rarely survive to our days in such good condition.