Geoarchaeological Evidence for the Decline of the Medieval City of Qalhat, Oman

A study provides geoarchaeological evidence suggesting that earthquake activity along the Qalhat Fault likely contributed to the decline of the medieval city of Qalhat, Oman. The research analyzed geological field data and a digital elevation model to test the hypothesis that seismic events were responsible for the city's downfall. The study identified signs of recent lithosphere deformation, such as faulted terrace fill deposits and deviating fluvial streams, along the passive continental margin of the Arabian Plate. Potential causes of this deformation include subduction-related forebulge uplift, serpentinite diapirism, and isostatic response to karstification. These findings offer a plausible explanation for the city's historical decline, which had previously remained unclear due to inconclusive archaeological evidence.

Ermertz, A. M., Kázmér, M., Adolphs, S. K., Falkenroth, M., & Hoffmann, G. (2019). Geoarchaeological Evidence for the Decline of the Medieval City of Qalhat, Oman. Open Quaternary, 5. https://doi.org/10.5334/oq.56