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Come with us on the adventure of a lifetime as we explore the best candidate for Nephi’s Bountiful in Oman. In the next few days, we will give you the details to take you there with us for an armchair journey to a green beach on the edge of the Arabian Sea where archaeologists are digging. Watch for continuing updates in the days ahead. If you missed the Day 1 report, please click here. If you missed the Day 2 report, click here.
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This work is sponsored by the Khor Kharfot Foundation and under the direction of Dr. F. Richard Hauck and his Archaeological Research Institute. (ARI). This entire project in Oman is being done by private contributions. To participate, please click here and click on the DONATE NOW button in the upper right.
Walking around an archaeological site with Dr. F. Richard Hauck is like putting on a completely new set of eyes. He sees things that we just can’t see. He’s had a lifetime of training in spotting the slightest change in the landscape and seeing the tiniest anomaly in an alignment of rocks or the patterns in a valley. He can quickly discern manmade vs. natural. When you’re walking around the best candidate for Nephi’s Bountiful he’s a real handy guy to have around.
We first met Dr. Hauck (Ric) about 28 years ago. Since that time we’ve come to know him very well. He’s a world-class expert on the Book of Mormon. He is a wonderful balance of knowledge and intuition. He is delightful to be around and fascinating to be with in the field.
We interviewed him onsite at Khor Kharfot, right at the place of the potential holy sanctuary. Click on the video to have further understanding of this discovery.
Darin HintonMarch 3, 2016
I saw the earlier story where the team members were introduced and their specialties outlined. I can see that you have very competent scientist on the team. I appreciate that you are posting updates of the progress of the study. I'm following it with baited breath (whatever that means) :)
Chad AstonMarch 1, 2016
I have been to this site many times, including this most recent expedition, and examined the rock very closely including climbing to the top and repelling down the front to examine the locations where water drips. There is no question as to whether water created these features - very obvious to the geologist present. The monsoon rains and fogs would cover these rocks in moisture each year for who knows how many years. All the large limestone boulders in the area contain identical features. In fact there is a small basin on top of the rock pictured which may prolong the water seeping through it. That said i can confirm a scientific approach is what the team wants. Anything found or conclusions reached need to stand up to peer review and scrutiny by the wider scientific community. What Maurine said is correct it is only an early hypothesis by Dr Hauck. No dates from testing have come back, no diagnosis of artefacts has taken place, no significant excavations and incomplete mapping so a long way to go. Very interesting ruin though, only multi-room structure on the cliff top. It's early days and there is a whole valley with dozens of ruined structures yet to yield results.