Dr. Zahi Hawass
In cooperation with the French National Center for Scientific Research, a field archaeological survey was conducted at Al-Yamamah region in Riyadh, revealing new discoveries in the region.
More than 21 foreign archaeological expeditions worked to uncover the civilizations that lived on the land of the Kingdom, whether in the pre-Islamic era or in the Islamic era.
Archaeological discoveries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia promote cooperation between the Saudi Heritage Commission, headed by Dr. Jasir Al-Herbish, and a number of scientific organizations and international universities.
The expeditions worked during five seasons, noting that the region includes chronology of ancient civilizations since prehistoric times, from the Stone Age, Middle Paleolithic, until the Iron Age, including historical eras such as the Greek, pre-Islamic and Islamic eras.
The archaeological survey uncovered many tombs dating back to the Bronze Age, water channels surrounded the oasis, in addition to many prehistoric stone tools.
A mosque was one of the discoveries, which consists of a rectangular projection in the front of portico, that of the Qibla, and contains 22 columns, in addition to a courtyard that occupies most of the vicinity of the mosque.
Stoneware and bone tools were also found, which can reveal important information by linking them to the archaeological stratigraphy.
Contributed by Omnia Ahmed
