Brief synthesisThe protohistoric archaeological complex of Bat, al-Khutm and al-Ayn represents one of the most complete and well preserved ensembles of settlements and necropolises from the 3rd millennium BCE worldwide. Further extensions of the site of Bat are represented by the monumental tower at al-Khutm and by the necropolis at al-Ayn. Seven monumental stone towers have been discovered at Bat and one is located in al-Khutm, 2 km west of Bat. The vast necropolis at Bat includes different clusters of monumental tombs that can be divided into two distinct groups. Criterion (iii): The area encompassing the settlements, the necropolises and the workshop areas of Bat, al-Khutm and al-Ayn is the most complete and best known archaeological complex in Eastern Arabia for the 3rd millennium BCE.