Mideast in Pictures: Explore history at Oman's Al Khandaq Castle

AL BURAIMI, Oman, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Al Khandaq Castle is one of the most important monuments in Al Buraimi Governorate, Oman.

Constructed in the early 1800s, the castle derives its name from a 7.5-meter-wide, 3-meter-deep trench that once encircled the structure. The square-shaped fortress includes ten rooms and four corner towers, surrounded by an internal wall punctuated with openings designed for artillery, archery, and other defensive mechanisms such as cannons.

Today, the southern tower houses a collection of artifacts excavated from archaeological sites across the governorate, alongside displays of traditional weaponry.