Unknown 8,000-Year-Old Human Settlement With A Rock-Cut Temple, Altar And Inscriptions Discovered In Al-Faw, Saudi Arabia

Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com -  A comprehensive scientific study combining high-quality aerial photography, a topographic survey, laser scanning, and geophysical survey have resulted in the discovery of an unknown human settlement dating back to the Neolithic era in Al-Faw, Saudi Arabia.

A team of archaeologists from Saudi Arabia and around the world have discovered new archaeological sites in the Al-Faw Archaeological Area. Credit: Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi Heritage Authority announced these discoveries reveal more secrets about the Al-Faw region, which is located 700 kilometers west of the capital Riyadh. The survey conducted by a Saudi-led multinational team of archaeologists revealed the remains of Neolithic human settlements dating back to the Neolithic era and more than 2,807 graves of different periods dotted throughout the site, which have been documented and classified into six groups.

As reported by Zawya, "the survey has yielded several discoveries, the most significant of which are the remains of a stone temple and parts of an altar, where the locals of Al-Faw would have practiced their rituals and ceremonies. The rock-cut temple sits on the edge of Mount Tuwaiq, known as Khashem Qaryah, east of Al-Faw."

Archaeologists have also unearthed many ancient inscriptions that offer an understanding of the religious belief system of the site's community. Among these is the inscription in the Jabal Lahaq sanctuary addressed to the god Kahal, the deity of Al-Faw.

The inscription's significance lies in its attribution to a family from the city of Al-Jarha and referring to the ancient name of the place where the sanctuary was built (Mount Tuwaiq).

The inscription indicates a relationship between the cities of Al-Faw and Al-Jarha – most likely commercial considering Al-Faw's location on the ancient trade route. It may also imply either religious tolerance between residents of the two cities or the worship of Al-Faw's deity, Kahal, by some of the residents of Al-Jarha. Though Al-Jarha was known for its wealth and economic power, its location has not yet been definitively identified, and several scholars associate it with the site of Thaj.

The discovery offers valuable data regarding the geographical distribution of Al-Faw's sanctuaries and reveals the foundations of four monumental buildings, some with corner towers. Their architecture, internal plans, and open-air courtyards suggest their use as resting places for trade caravans.

Image source: Organiser.org

Extensive surveys and remote-sensing images have revealed several agrarian fields used to grow crops to sustain residents. The archaeological study further uncovered a complex irrigation system, including canals, water cisterns, and hundreds of pits dug by Al-Faw residents to bring rainwater to the agricultural areas. This may explain how the inhabitants of these lands overcame and adapted to the arid climate and minimal rainfall of one of the world's harshest desert environments.

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Discoveries include a series of rock art and inscriptions carved on the face of Mount Tuwaiq, narrating the story of a man named Madhekar bin Muneim, and illustrating daily scenes of hunting, travel, and battle.

The new findings result from the Heritage Commission's ongoing efforts to study, protect and preserve the nation's cultural heritage sites. Research at the site will continue to build a greater understanding of the cultural landscape of Al-Faw archaeological area.

Written by Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com Staff Writer