Saudi Arabia discovers 25,000 artefact fragments from seventh century

Find highlights Jeddah's historic trade connections with China and Sri Lanka

About 25,000 fragments of artefacts from the Early Islamic era were discovered through the Jeddah Historic District Programme. All Photos: Saudi Press Agency

Tombstones made of Mangabi stone, marble, and granite were found at different locations within Jeddah.

The archaeological survey and excavations yielded significant findings, including 11,405 pottery shards weighing 293kg.

Some of the pieces were made in the Chinese province of Jiangxi and date back to the 16th-19th centuries, while older pottery fragments were from the Abbasid era.

The excavation revealed the historical significance of four locations: Othman bin Affan mosque, Al Shona, a segment of the Northern Wall, and Al Kidwah.

The announcement of the archaeological discoveries is part of the efforts of the Historic Jeddah Revival Programme.

About 25,000 fragments of artefacts dating back to the era of the Islamic caliphates have been discovered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Jeddah Historic District Programme, along with Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission, announced the discovery dating from the first two centuries of the Islamic Hijri calendar - from the seventh to eighth centuries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The announcement of the archaeological discoveries is part of the efforts of the Historic Jeddah Revival Programme started by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The project started in January 2020 with exploratory studies and a geophysical survey that aimed to unveil the historical significance of four crucial locations: Othman bin Affan mosque, Al Shona, a segment of the Northern Wall, and Al Kidwah.

Archaeological investigation at Othman bin Affan mosque revealed artefacts dating back to the first two centuries (7th to 8th centuries) and spanning different periods.

Ebony pillars found near the mihrab were traced back to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), highlighting the extensive trade connections of the city.

The archaeological survey and excavations yielded significant findings, including 11,405 pottery shards weighing 293kg, 11,360 animal bones measured at 107kg, 1,730 shells at 32kg, 685 building materials weighing 87kg, 187 glass artefacts weighing 5kg, and 71 metal artefacts at 7kg.

The exhibition features several original keys to the Kaaba. All photos: Hareth Al Bustani / The National

The ornate basalt tombstones from Makkah's historic Al-Ma'la graveyard speak to the city's history of diversity

Among the world’s oldest surviving Quranic manuscripts, this Hijazi Quran manuscript dates back to the first century of the Hijrah

The door Sultan Murad IV ordered for the Kaaba after floods swept through Makkah and destroyed three of the building's walls in 1630

From left: A padlock, a bolt lock and a bag for keys all for the Prophet Mohammed's tomb

Iznik tile panel with an image of the Haram Mosque, produced in the 1670s-1680s

A manuscript produced in 1313 during the reign of Ilkhan Oljaitu. Pages are adorned with ink, opaque pigments and gold

A curtain for the internal door of the Kaaba, produced for Sultan Fuad I in Cairo in 1920

A monumental single volume Quran manuscript, believed to have been made for Baysunghur Mirza bin Shah Rukh or Ibrahim Sultan bin Shah Rukh, in Herat or Sheraz 820-45AD

Excavations at the same site also unveiled a collection of ceramic vessels and fragments, including high-quality porcelain.

Some pieces were made in the Chinese province of Jiangxi and date back to between the 16th and 19th centuries, while older pottery fragments were from the Abbasid era.

The archaeological site at Al Shona, dating back at least to the 19th century, has yielded numerous pottery shards, including porcelain and ceramic from Europe, Japan, and China, dating from the 19th to 20th centuries.

Excavations at Al Kidwah (Bab Makkah – Makkah gate) revealed parts of the Eastern Moat, which most likely date back to the late 18th century.

Tombstones made of Mangabi stone, marble, and granite were found at different locations within historic Jeddah.

These tombstones contain inscriptions of names, epitaphs, and Quranic verses, potentially dating back to the second and third centuries.

The archaeological studies at the four historical sites involved excavations, radiocarbon analysis, soil analyses, geophysical surveys and scientific examination of artefacts.

Wood samples from 52 buildings were sent to international laboratories for identification and dating.