RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has completed the third season of the archaeological excavation project at the Al-Ma’mala site in the Baha region, continuing efforts to document the Kingdom’s heritage.
The excavations uncovered evidence of urban development more than a millennium old, shedding light on the historical aspects of archaeological sites in the Kingdom.
Excavators found granite stone walls, some with mud bricks and gypsum plaster, reflecting advanced building techniques, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The walls, standing 50-120 cm high and 50-80 cm wide, demonstrate the era’s architectural skill.
The dig revealed two well-preserved residential complexes. The first has three rooms, four storage areas, five basins and two hearths. The second features three rooms, two storage spaces, four basins, a hearth, a clay oven and two supporting pillars.
These structures highlight the community’s efficient spatial organization and versatile building design, the SPA added.
The excavation uncovered 230 pottery pieces, both glazed and unglazed, featuring distinctive geometric patterns.
The team also found 48 stone artifacts, 26 colored glass pieces in green and gray, 35 metal implements and 17 stone tools, including pestles, grinders and millstone fragments used in crushing raw materials.
These findings suggest a thriving commercial and industrial center, the SPA reported.
Al-Ma’malah’s strategic location, 13 km east of Al-Aqiq and 45 km from Baha, was key to its historical significance. The site lies near the ancient Darb Al-Feel (Elephant Road) trade route, which connected southern Arabia to northern regions in pre-Islamic times, making it economically important.
This route later became a major pilgrimage path during the Islamic era, leading to the growth of villages and cities along its path.
The Heritage Commission continues to conduct extensive surveys and excavations across Saudi Arabia using advanced survey techniques and field methods. These efforts aim to document and preserve the Kingdom’s history while raising public awareness of its cultural heritage.