Saudi: Rare Pre-Islamic Artefacts Discovered in Southern Region
Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has announced the discovery of pre-Islamic artefacts at Al-Ukhdood archaeological site in the southern region of Najran — one of the country’s oldest inhabited regions, on the border with Yemen.
The find includes three ancient rings, which are equal in size and feature butterfly-shaped motifs on top. Archaeologists also dug up a bronze bull’s head, which was cherished as a symbol of strength and fertility among the pre-Islamic kingdoms of southern Arabia, such as the Sabeans, Ma’inids and Qatabanids.
There are several inscriptions, including a large granite stone detailing the life of a resident named Wahb Ail bin Maaqen, who is described as watering the gardens of his house and a nearby palace. At 48cm high and 2.3 metres long, it is the largest inscription of its kind found in the region.
The Heritage Commission team also unearthed several pottery jars of various sizes and shapes, alongside a rare sample of Attic pottery dating back to the third century BC.
Working with international experts, a group of Saudi archaeologists examined the findings, which have helped to demystify the chronological development of Al-Ukhdood over the past 2,000 years.
