RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has concluded the second season of archeological survey work in Al-Mahd governorate in the Madinah region, documenting traces of past civilizations reflecting a history stretching back to the earliest days of the Islamic state.
The commission documented 1,774 archeological discoveries across three survey areas: Al-Suwayriqiyah, Al-Muwayhiyah, and Hadhah, with each site preserving enduring signs of human presence that have withstood the passage of time.
The survey recorded 156 new archeological sites, yielding 461 Islamic inscriptions, 34 Thamudic inscriptions, 1,259 rock art panels, 11 stone structures, three historical palaces, two caravan routes, and four wells.
Among the most notable finds are rock inscriptions bearing the name of Omar ibn Al-Khattab, alongside Arabic poetry engraved on rock surfaces, significantly enhancing the site’s cultural and historical value.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to continuing survey and documentation programmes nationwide, in support of Saudi Vision 2030’s objectives to preserve cultural heritage across the Kingdom.
Last week, the commission completed the first season of its joint scientific mission with the University of Exeter at the ancient Al-Juhfah Miqat site, uncovering more than 1,700 artifacts and confirming the site’s significance along the Egyptian pilgrimage route.
Discoveries included diverse fragments used in daily life, six pottery kilns, a water channel believed to have served pilgrims and travelers, and 13 tombstones dating to the Umayyad and Abbasid periods.
Some of the finds originated from the Levant, Egypt, and Ethiopia, reflecting the diverse origins of pilgrims who passed through the miqat.
Al-Juhfah Miqat is located 187 km northwest of Makkah and has served as an established miqat since the early Islamic period, associated with the Hijrah of the Prophet. It is believed to have flourished in the second Hijri century, with water facilities and shops that once served pilgrims.
