From desert trails to ocean sails: the cultural and commercial landscapes of Oman

presented by Dr Lucy Wadeson

This lecture explores how the distinctive and varied landscapes of Oman shaped and were shaped by the ancient trade routes that crossed them, conveying luxury goods such as spices, textiles and incense between Africa, Arabia and the wider world of the Indian Ocean. The Dhofar region of Oman is one of the few places in the world where frankincense-producing trees grow, and we will discover how this precious and highly sought-after commodity contributed to Oman’s prosperity and identity. Along with the goods that were transported via the trade routes came new ideas and traditions, promoting a rich cultural exchange between the east and west over centuries. This cultural diversity is still visible in Oman today, interwoven through its land and the people that inhabit it.

Lucy Wadeson is a classical archaeologist specialised in the material culture of the Greco-Roman Near East. In particular, she is an expert on the Nabataean kingdom and its principal city of Petra where she directs her own excavation of tombs in the royal necropolis. Since a young age, Lucy has been fascinated with the Mediterranean and Middle East and her travels and international academic positions have allowed her to immerse herself in local languages and cultures. With time, her research has led her further east, into the heart of Arabia, where she has been exploring how the classical ‘western’ world interacted with Arabia and the ‘east’, particularly via the ancient incense routes. She is fascinated with the themes of cultural identity in the ancient Near East and Arabia and how cultural traditions from antiquity have survived into the present day, as well as how the natural environment affected social and cultural practices. Read more about Lucy and discover the tours she leads on her tour leader page.