Samad Al Shan Castle

Samad Al Shan Castle lies in the north of the village of Samad Al Shan, in the Ash Sharqiyah North Governorate in Oman.

I know absolutely nothing about this castle. I just found it while perusing Google Earth. It looks like a fortified residence, but quite a big one at that. I don't know its name, but I'll guess it starts with Bait, meaning 'house'. For now, I just named it after the village. If you know more, or even just its real name, please mail me.

The village of Samad Al Shan is spread out along a couple of oases in the valley of the Wadi Samad. Human settlement here has been attested to date back to at least the Late Iron Age. But if I would have to make another guess, I would say this castle dates back to around the 18th century.

Some sides of it are difficult to see, as there are modern houses built up against it. Walking around it, I also encountered another tower directly south of it, maybe that one once also was part of another fortified residence?

The crumbling Samad Al Shan Castle can only be admired from the outside. Further south in the village are 2 other castles that are worth visiting; Bait Al Khabib and Al Khuzam.

Gallery

The other tower nearby