Theme I: The Oman Peninsula in Prehistoric Times (from the Stone Age to the Pre-Islamic Period)
- Cultural and societal developments in prehistoric times.
- Patterns of settlement and human mobility during the Stone Age.
- The development of lithic industries in prehistoric times.
- Settlement patterns, urban development, and socio-economic transformations in the Bronze Age.
- Settlement patterns, cultural developments, and socio-economic transformations in the Iron Age.
- Cultural changes in the pre-Islamic period.
- Regional and international interactions before Islam (trade, cultural influences).
Theme II: The Omani Peninsula in Islamic Periods (Early, Middle, and Late)
- Cultural and societal developments in the Early Islamic Period.
- Urban and settlement growth during the Islamic Periods.
- Religious and civil architecture during Islamic Periods.
- The role of Oman in maritime and overland trade networks.
- Omani ports and their role in cultural exchange during the Islamic ages.
Theme III: Rock Art in the Omani Peninsula
- History of archaeological research on rock art in Oman.
- Rock art sites: geographical distribution and cultural significance.
- Techniques and methods of Omani rock art production.
- Symbolism of motifs and decorations in Omani rock art.
- Chronology of Omani rock art.
- Themes in Omani rock art: animals, humans, abstractions, tools, inscriptions.
- Comparative studies between Omani rock art and regional parallels.
- Documentation and preservation efforts for rock art sites.
- Application of modern technologies in the study and analysis of rock art.
Theme IV: Built Heritage in the Sultanate of Oman
- Forms of traditional architecture in Oman’s diverse environments (rural, mountain, coastal, etc.).
- Forts and castles: architectural, functional, and decorative features, and their defensive, social, and cultural significance.
- Traditional construction techniques and their environmental sustainability.
- Historic villages and settlements as models of living architectural heritage.
- Challenges of preserving built heritage amidst urban transformations.
- Experiences in conservation and adaptive reuse in Oman.
- Documentation and architectural survey projects in Oman.
- Management and safeguarding of architectural heritage.
- The role of environment and climate in shaping local architecture.
- Built heritage and its role in shaping Omani cultural identity: place, memory, and community identity.
- Integrating traditional and contemporary architecture: investment and tourism utilization.
- Legislation and policies for the protection of architectural heritage.
- Intangible heritage related to buildings: rituals and practices, oral traditions about old structures, and links between architecture and traditional social life.
Theme V: Paleo-Climate and Paleo-Environment in the Oman Peninsula
- Shifts between humid and arid phases in prehistory and historical periods.
- Methods of studying ancient climate and environment in the Oman Peninsula.
- Paleo-climate and its influence on settlement and human activities.
- Sediments and geological formations as environmental indicators.
- Ancient water resources and the development of irrigation systems.
- Human–environment interactions in the Oman Peninsula.
- Using environmental data to reconstruct regional history.
- Natural resources and their distribution across time.
- Palaeobotanical and palaeozoological studies for understanding ancient biodiversity.
Theme VI: Underwater Archaeology
- Major discoveries and surveys along the Omani coasts (shipwrecks, ancient ports, submerged artifacts).
- Case studies of potential underwater sites in Oman and their historical significance.
- Shipwrecks and port infrastructure in antiquity.
- Modern technologies in underwater archaeology: sonar, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), 3D imaging, underwater drones, and geomatics.
- Challenges facing underwater archaeology in Oman.
- Oman’s maritime role in ancient trade networks.
- Traditional Omani shipbuilding (e.g., ghanja, baghla) and their relevance to submerged archaeological sites.
- Regional and international cooperation in safeguarding maritime heritage.
- Preservation and management strategies for Oman’s submerged cultural heritage.
- Oman’s submerged cultural heritage in national and international legislation and policy.
- The role of local communities and fishermen in protecting maritime heritage.
- Oman’s maritime cultural tourism (e.g., archaeological diving) as a tool for awareness-raising.