![DSC04702.jpg](DSC04702_t.jpg) Classic mountain stone house with flat roof and close-fitting stones |
![DSC04703.jpg](DSC04703_t.jpg) Houses amid boulders with the backdrop of a steep mountain face |
![DSC04704.jpg](DSC04704_t.jpg) Wind blown dust has filled one of the grinding stone holes that are present in front of most houses |
![DSC04705.jpg](DSC04705_t.jpg) Even the chicken coops are well built with traditional techniques |
![DSC04706.jpg](DSC04706_t.jpg) Typical complement of buildings: chicken coops (foreground), yanz (storage building rear right) and human shelter (right) |
![DSC04707.jpg](DSC04707_t.jpg) House with overhanging roof |
![DSC04708.jpg](DSC04708_t.jpg) Not uncommon for a house to be built around an exposed boulder |
![DSC04709.jpg](DSC04709_t.jpg) An oven -- tannour oven -- with many layers of mud lining visible |
![DSC04710.jpg](DSC04710_t.jpg) Another view of the oven, located just outside the courtyard of this family's buildings |
![DSC04711.jpg](DSC04711_t.jpg) Stones piled in the doorway to discourage intruders |
![DSC04712.jpg](DSC04712_t.jpg) Brien photographing one of the stone houses |
![DSC04713.jpg](DSC04713_t.jpg) Detail of house construction showing doorway and ventilation holes |
![DSC04714.jpg](DSC04714_t.jpg) Another view of the ventilation holes; some cooking was done inside and smoke was a problem |
![DSC04715.jpg](DSC04715_t.jpg) Doorway (right) and stoop (left) |
![DSC04716.jpg](DSC04716_t.jpg) View of house showing gravel roof to drain rainfall and insulate interior |
![DSC04717.jpg](DSC04717_t.jpg) Another view of this family's complex of houses |
![DSC04718.jpg](DSC04718_t.jpg) This room does not appear to have had a roof; wall is also narrow suggesting animal shelter |
![DSC04719.jpg](DSC04719_t.jpg) Trees were a common feature in each courtyard; note the fine construction on the corner of the house |
![DSC04720.jpg](DSC04720_t.jpg) There is no electrical service to the community; "storm lamps" provided illumination |
![DSC04721.jpg](DSC04721_t.jpg) Storage building (yanz) located on top of one of the boulders |
![DSC04722.jpg](DSC04722_t.jpg) A general view of the courtyard of this family compound (houses, animal pen, chicken coops) |
![DSC04723.jpg](DSC04723_t.jpg) Another view of the same family compound |
![DSC04724.jpg](DSC04724_t.jpg) Another view (moving right to left) of the same family compound |
![DSC04725.jpg](DSC04725_t.jpg) Another view (moving to the left) of the same compound |
![DSC04726.jpg](DSC04726_t.jpg) Still moving to the left, looking down the slope at other houses |
![DSC04727.jpg](DSC04727_t.jpg) A solitary house below the photographed family compound |
![DSC04728.jpg](DSC04728_t.jpg) View from the settlement area down onto the main wadi bed of Wadi Sha'am |
![DSC04729.jpg](DSC04729_t.jpg) Continuing to move to the left, a view of the wadi bed |
![DSC04730.jpg](DSC04730_t.jpg) The track leading to Farij al Sili |
![DSC04731.jpg](DSC04731_t.jpg) Some houses show signs of neglect |
![DSC04732.jpg](DSC04732_t.jpg) Some owners have renovated the old stone houses; this has a fresh coat of sarouj |
![DSC04733.jpg](DSC04733_t.jpg) Last in series of photographs showing 180-degree view from the family compound |
![DSC04734.jpg](DSC04734_t.jpg) Pot sherds are plentiful showing a long period of continuous occupation, ending a generation or less ago |
![DSC04735.jpg](DSC04735_t.jpg) Stone house with stone work not as fine as evident on other buildings |
![DSC04736.jpg](DSC04736_t.jpg) Neglect and time has caused several buildings' roofs to collapse |
![DSC04737.jpg](DSC04737_t.jpg) Part of a storage box? |
![DSC04738.jpg](DSC04738_t.jpg) Note the fine workmanship of the roof |
![DSC04739.jpg](DSC04739_t.jpg) Another view of the precise workmanship of the house roof |
![DSC04740.jpg](DSC04740_t.jpg) One of the doorways leading to a family compound |
![DSC04741.jpg](DSC04741_t.jpg) One this house, the living quarters are on the right, the kitchen the small room extending to the left |
![DSC04742.jpg](DSC04742_t.jpg) It is difficult to imagine how some areas were used |
![DSC04743.jpg](DSC04743_t.jpg) Evidence how one of the substantial building walls (left) have been damaged |
![DSC04744.jpg](DSC04744_t.jpg) A view of the rear (outside exposure) of a house |
![DSC04745.jpg](DSC04745_t.jpg) Another view of the same house |
![DSC04746.jpg](DSC04746_t.jpg) View of the same house from a different vantage point |
![DSC04747.jpg](DSC04747_t.jpg) Looking over the top of a housing unit to the community beyond |
![DSC04748.jpg](DSC04748_t.jpg) Storage building (yanz) with door only partially sealed |
![DSC04749.jpg](DSC04749_t.jpg) An oven where the mud lining has begun to collapse |
![DSC04750.jpg](DSC04750_t.jpg) View of storage building and rear of house, oven located to the left of the photo |
![DSC04751.jpg](DSC04751_t.jpg) Chicken coop? |
![DSC04752.jpg](DSC04752_t.jpg) Roof beams have collapsed in this shelter, roof material (gravel, matting) on the floor |
![DSC04753.jpg](DSC04753_t.jpg) Interior of a home; timbers used as roof beams, not palm trunks |
![DSC04754.jpg](DSC04754_t.jpg) Roof beams are placed very close together |
![DSC04755.jpg](DSC04755_t.jpg) View from interior of doorway |
![DSC04756.jpg](DSC04756_t.jpg) View from interior of sunlight penetrating stone wall |
![DSC04757.jpg](DSC04757_t.jpg) Walls included many small storage niches |
![DSC04758.jpg](DSC04758_t.jpg) Kitchen area with hearth on left, storage niches built into wall, soot-stained rock and ceiling |
![DSC04759.jpg](DSC04759_t.jpg) Another view of the kitchen |
![DSC04760.jpg](DSC04760_t.jpg) Detail of the soot-stained roof beams |
![DSC04761.jpg](DSC04761_t.jpg) View of the kitchen from inside the main house |
![DSC04762.jpg](DSC04762_t.jpg) View from interior through one of the rare windows |
![DSC04763.jpg](DSC04763_t.jpg) Wall peg for hanging valuables |
![DSC04764.jpg](DSC04764_t.jpg) View of ventilation holes in kitchen area |
![DSC04765.jpg](DSC04765_t.jpg) View through door of living area to sheltered "corridor" beyond |
![DSC04766.jpg](DSC04766_t.jpg) Soot-filled are filled the houses making life difficult and posing health problems for women |
![DSC04767.jpg](DSC04767_t.jpg) Broken storage pot |
![DSC04768.jpg](DSC04768_t.jpg) Doorway and roof overhang |
![DSC04769.jpg](DSC04769_t.jpg) Collapsed roof and yanz in distance |
![DSC04770.jpg](DSC04770_t.jpg) Doorway leading to kitchen (left) and living area (right) |
![DSC04771.jpg](DSC04771_t.jpg) Doorway of this low-profile house is packed with stone |
![DSC04772.jpg](DSC04772_t.jpg) Detail of stone-filled doorway |
![DSC04773.jpg](DSC04773_t.jpg) Another example of stone-filled doorway |
![DSC04774.jpg](DSC04774_t.jpg) Roof overhang of this home is exceptional |
![DSC04775.jpg](DSC04775_t.jpg) House showing signs of neglect |
![DSC04776.jpg](DSC04776_t.jpg) Chicken coop? |
![DSC04777.jpg](DSC04777_t.jpg) Typical view of houses and storage buildings |
![DSC04778.jpg](DSC04778_t.jpg) Note the intricate stone work on this yanz |
![DSC04779.jpg](DSC04779_t.jpg) Storage buildings typically built on high ground near house |
![DSC04780.jpg](DSC04780_t.jpg) Detail of beam timber, wall construction and eave |
![DSC04781.jpg](DSC04781_t.jpg) Storage building with partially sealed doorway |
![DSC04782.jpg](DSC04782_t.jpg) Roofline is perfectly flat of Sili houses, compared to 'bait khaimah' we see elsewhere in the mountains |
![DSC04783.jpg](DSC04783_t.jpg) One of the mosques of Sili |
![DSC04784.jpg](DSC04784_t.jpg) Storage building constructed on sloping boulder |
![DSC04785.jpg](DSC04785_t.jpg) Houses and boulders in apparent harmony |
![DSC04786.jpg](DSC04786_t.jpg) Note how the settlement extends up towards base of the escarpment |
![DSC04787.jpg](DSC04787_t.jpg) The settlement of Sili appears to have been occupied until just a few years ago |
![DSC04788.jpg](DSC04788_t.jpg) Tannour oven |
![DSC04789.jpg](DSC04789_t.jpg) Oven (foreground) and storage building behind |
![DSC04790.jpg](DSC04790_t.jpg) View from houses down to some of the terraces that surround the community |
![DSC04791.jpg](DSC04791_t.jpg) Roofline of one house |
![DSC04792.jpg](DSC04792_t.jpg) Foreground is actually roof of a house |
![DSC04793.jpg](DSC04793_t.jpg) View of house (foreground) and animal storage area |
![DSC04794.jpg](DSC04794_t.jpg) Large stones were used in the construction of most houses |
![DSC04795.jpg](DSC04795_t.jpg) Gravel rooftop |
![DSC04796.jpg](DSC04796_t.jpg) Rooftop showing stones that hold eave slabs in place |
![DSC04797.jpg](DSC04797_t.jpg) Doorway with wooden, not stone slab, lintel |
![DSC04798.jpg](DSC04798_t.jpg) Interior of mosque |
![DSC04799.jpg](DSC04799_t.jpg) Interior of mosque with wall storage niche typially to the left of the prayer niche |
![DSC04800.jpg](DSC04800_t.jpg) Detail of wall storage niche; note sarouj plastering of interior |
![DSC04801.jpg](DSC04801_t.jpg) Roof booms arched to provide more headroom |
![DSC04802.jpg](DSC04802_t.jpg) Detail of prayer niche |
![DSC04803.jpg](DSC04803_t.jpg) Detail of roof beams showing excellent condition of the timbers |
![DSC04804.jpg](DSC04804_t.jpg) Neatly constructed steps leading into the mosque |
![DSC04805.jpg](DSC04805_t.jpg) The newly refurbished house |
![DSC04806.jpg](DSC04806_t.jpg) House that has evidently been used as a source of building material |
![DSC04807.jpg](DSC04807_t.jpg) Interior of abandoned house |
![DSC04808.jpg](DSC04808_t.jpg) Open-roof portion of a house |
![DSC04809.jpg](DSC04809_t.jpg) Some of the Islamic pottery on the site; these pots may have been produced in Sili |
![DSC04810.jpg](DSC04810_t.jpg) Fine door, with lock, of cemented house |
![DSC04811.jpg](DSC04811_t.jpg) A rare cemented house |
![DSC04812.jpg](DSC04812_t.jpg) Ventilation holes at base of wall suggest this was summer sleeping area |
![DSC04813.jpg](DSC04813_t.jpg) Detail of ventilation holes at the base of the wall |
![DSC04814.jpg](DSC04814_t.jpg) View from cemented house of yanz and stone house |
![DSC04815.jpg](DSC04815_t.jpg) Yanz (right) and chicken coop |
![DSC04816.jpg](DSC04816_t.jpg) Doors were often recessed up to one meter |
![DSC04817.jpg](DSC04817_t.jpg) Three locks on this door |
![DSC04818.jpg](DSC04818_t.jpg) Metal straps reinforce this old door |
![DSC04819.jpg](DSC04819_t.jpg) Detail of locks and door construction; note old holes evidence of old locking systems |
![DSC04820.jpg](DSC04820_t.jpg) Hand forged nails overlapping the metal strapping of the door |
![DSC04821.jpg](DSC04821_t.jpg) Soot-stained upper part of the door and frame |
![DSC04822.jpg](DSC04822_t.jpg) The low doorway meant individuals would stoop when entering and exiting the house |
![DSC04823.jpg](DSC04823_t.jpg) View of what appears to be an L-shaped house; is actually two family rooms |
![DSC04824.jpg](DSC04824_t.jpg) Hole is roof is first sign of failing roof beams |
![DSC04825.jpg](DSC04825_t.jpg) Another mosque at Sili |
![DSC04826.jpg](DSC04826_t.jpg) Doorway to mosque; note precisely placed stones of foundation |
![DSC04827.jpg](DSC04827_t.jpg) Small niches (for sandals?) in front of mosque; outdoor prayer platform on raised level behind |
![DSC04828.jpg](DSC04828_t.jpg) Mosque (right) and platform |
![DSC04829.jpg](DSC04829_t.jpg) Lower angle view of mosque and platform |
![DSC04830.jpg](DSC04830_t.jpg) House with stoop along front of house, below eave |
![DSC04831.jpg](DSC04831_t.jpg) Lock on door |
![DSC04832.jpg](DSC04832_t.jpg) Another view of lock and repaired door |
![DSC04833.jpg](DSC04833_t.jpg) Another view of door |
![DSC04834.jpg](DSC04834_t.jpg) Doorway with steps and stoop |
![DSC04835.jpg](DSC04835_t.jpg) Brien resting on the stoop; note huge stone lintel for door |
![DSC04836.jpg](DSC04836_t.jpg) View along front of house |
![DSC04837.jpg](DSC04837_t.jpg) Chicken coop? |
![DSC04838.jpg](DSC04838_t.jpg) Retaining wall for one of the terraces; pottery kilns to the right |
![DSC04839.jpg](DSC04839_t.jpg) Terraces with storage buildings in distance |
![DSC04840.jpg](DSC04840_t.jpg) Mud littered around kilns |
![DSC04841.jpg](DSC04841_t.jpg) Mud lining of one of the kilns |
![DSC04842.jpg](DSC04842_t.jpg) Sili kilns are more than a meter wide and several meters deep |
![DSC04843.jpg](DSC04843_t.jpg) Opening at base is where firewood was fed into the kiln |
![DSC04844.jpg](DSC04844_t.jpg) Terracing |
![DSC04845.jpg](DSC04845_t.jpg) One of the wells; note placed stone at left |
![DSC04846.jpg](DSC04846_t.jpg) Another view of the well |
![DSC04847.jpg](DSC04847_t.jpg) Stone over well and small basin |
![DSC04848.jpg](DSC04848_t.jpg) Well (right) and small reservoir (left) |
![DSC04849.jpg](DSC04849_t.jpg) Terracing |
![DSC04850.jpg](DSC04850_t.jpg) The two largest kilns at Sili |
![DSC04851.jpg](DSC04851_t.jpg) Stone wall of kiln |
![DSC04852.jpg](DSC04852_t.jpg) Fireplace hole of kiln |
![DSC04853.jpg](DSC04853_t.jpg) Another view of the kilns |
![DSC04854.jpg](DSC04854_t.jpg) Kilns (foreground) and terracing beyond |
![DSC04855.jpg](DSC04855_t.jpg) Overhead view of the two kilns |
![DSC04856.jpg](DSC04856_t.jpg) Terracing |
![DSC04857.jpg](DSC04857_t.jpg) View down the slope from the kilns |
![DSC04858.jpg](DSC04858_t.jpg) Higher level terracing with houses around perimeter of fields |
![DSC04859.jpg](DSC04859_t.jpg) Walled terracing with storage buildings in background |
![DSC04860.jpg](DSC04860_t.jpg) Impressive pattern of stone walls and stone buildings |
![DSC04861.jpg](DSC04861_t.jpg) Terracing with majestic mountains in background |
![DSC04862.jpg](DSC04862_t.jpg) Terracing |
![DSC04863.jpg](DSC04863_t.jpg) View up from terraces at houses, yanz |
![DSC04864.jpg](DSC04864_t.jpg) Abandoned oven (tannour) |
![DSC04865.jpg](DSC04865_t.jpg) Another view of the oven |
![DSC04866.jpg](DSC04866_t.jpg) Ovens? or just mud-dressed storage niches |
![DSC04867.jpg](DSC04867_t.jpg) Door on floor already littered with collapsed roof |
![DSC04868.jpg](DSC04868_t.jpg) Deadened nails on rear of door |
![DSC04869.jpg](DSC04869_t.jpg) Wooden door more than a meter inside the stone wall of this house |
![DSC04870.jpg](DSC04870_t.jpg) Detail of door |
![DSC04871.jpg](DSC04871_t.jpg) Detail of door |
![DSC04872.jpg](DSC04872_t.jpg) Doorway with soot staining the ceiling of the entranceway |
![DSC04873.jpg](DSC04873_t.jpg) Opening of chicken coop |
![DSC04874.jpg](DSC04874_t.jpg) Flattened stone for rolling bread |
![DSC04875.jpg](DSC04875_t.jpg) Grinding holes were made in stones in courtyards |
![DSC04876.jpg](DSC04876_t.jpg) Grinding stone in relation to house, courtyard |
![DSC04877.jpg](DSC04877_t.jpg) Coin shows relative size of this grinding stone |
![DSC04878.jpg](DSC04878_t.jpg) Another grinding stone |
![DSC04879.jpg](DSC04879_t.jpg) House featuring the deeply recessed doorway |
![DSC04880.jpg](DSC04880_t.jpg) Courtyard of house with deeply recessed doorway |
![DSC04881.jpg](DSC04881_t.jpg) Doorway |
![DSC04882.jpg](DSC04882_t.jpg) Collection of houses in a family compound |
![DSC04883.jpg](DSC04883_t.jpg) Different view of same family compound |
![DSC04884.jpg](DSC04884_t.jpg) View of houses and walls |
![DSC04885.jpg](DSC04885_t.jpg) Rare two-panel doorway |
![DSC04886.jpg](DSC04886_t.jpg) Note ventilation hole below eave on this house |
![DSC04887.jpg](DSC04887_t.jpg) Another house |
![DSC04888.jpg](DSC04888_t.jpg) House with massive door lintel, neat steps, inviting stoop |
![DSC04889.jpg](DSC04889_t.jpg) Placement of these stones a mystery |
![DSC04890.jpg](DSC04890_t.jpg) Houses were dark, cramped, uninviting |
![DSC04891.jpg](DSC04891_t.jpg) Items inside this house difficult to see in darkness |
![DSC04892.jpg](DSC04892_t.jpg) Metal strapping inside this door frame |
![DSC04893.jpg](DSC04893_t.jpg) Vertical strapping strengthening door, horizontal straps holding boards together |
![DSC04894.jpg](DSC04894_t.jpg) Door latch and lock |
![DSC04895.jpg](DSC04895_t.jpg) General view of the door |
![DSC04896.jpg](DSC04896_t.jpg) Magnificent house |
![DSC04897.jpg](DSC04897_t.jpg) Doorway of this house crowded by boulder |
![DSC04898.jpg](DSC04898_t.jpg) Most houses featured the stoop along the front wall suggesting a very social community |
![DSC04899.jpg](DSC04899_t.jpg) Detail of stonework in a wall surrounding summer sleeping area |
![DSC04900.jpg](DSC04900_t.jpg) Path from houses to one of the Sili reservoirs |
![DSC04901.jpg](DSC04901_t.jpg) Lower stretches of the path doubled as falaj |
![DSC04902.jpg](DSC04902_t.jpg) Brien inspecting wood covering reservoir |
![DSC04903.jpg](DSC04903_t.jpg) Spillway to direct overflow into small reservoir |
![DSC04904.jpg](DSC04904_t.jpg) Reservoir covered to prevent animals, windblown debris from falling into water |
![DSC04905.jpg](DSC04905_t.jpg) Clouds hiding the mountain tops |
![DSC04906.jpg](DSC04906_t.jpg) Hinges no longer supporting this door hanging from latch |
![DSC04907.jpg](DSC04907_t.jpg) Worms and/or termites have damaged this door |
![DSC04908.jpg](DSC04908_t.jpg) Doorway, stoop and chicken coop? (right) |
![DSC04909.jpg](DSC04909_t.jpg) View through doorway to thin exterior wall |
![DSC04910.jpg](DSC04910_t.jpg) Steps and neatly placed stones of bench suggest great care taken to prepare courtyards |
![DSC04911.jpg](DSC04911_t.jpg) Tumbling boulder incorporated into building |
![DSC04912.jpg](DSC04912_t.jpg) Rooftop (foreground) and terracing |
![DSC04913.jpg](DSC04913_t.jpg) Rooftop (foreground) and more terracing |
![DSC04914.jpg](DSC04914_t.jpg) Much of the site suggests it was an inhospitable place to live |
![DSC04916.jpg](DSC04916_t.jpg) Buildings disappear into the landscape |
![DSC04917.jpg](DSC04917_t.jpg) Walls used to channel water through the buildings |
![DSC04918.jpg](DSC04918_t.jpg) Walls and courtyard of a house that seems to have been used as a source of building material |
![DSC04919.jpg](DSC04919_t.jpg) Second reservoir |
![DSC04920.jpg](DSC04920_t.jpg) Second reservoir and small mud-lined basin |
![DSC04921.jpg](DSC04921_t.jpg) Another view of reservoir and basin |
![DSC04922.jpg](DSC04922_t.jpg) Different perspective of reservoir and basin |
![DSC04923.jpg](DSC04923_t.jpg) Below the settlement, a modern house and farm |
![DSC04924.jpg](DSC04924_t.jpg) With a little water, crops are plentiful |
![DSC04925.jpg](DSC04925_t.jpg) Another view of the new farm |
![DSC04926.jpg](DSC04926_t.jpg) Metal doors of house nearby showing two flay designs, one UAE, other unknown |