Empty stones in the mountains

I am on the Jebel Akhdar mountain range. The region lies at an altitude of over 2,000 meters and is known for its cooler climate. From here the view extends over steep rock faces, terraced fields and deep valleys. Away from today's roads are several abandoned villages that were once permanently inhabited.

I walk through one of these villages. The houses are made of stone and clay, many roofs have collapsed and doors and windows are missing. The structure of the buildings and the old irrigation canals indicate that agriculture was practiced here. In the 1970s and 1980s, many residents moved to more accessible locations in the valley where there were schools, medical care and jobs. What remained behind were settlements that today bear witness to life in the mountains in the past. | Oman