Archaeologists In Saudi Arabia Recently Discovered 25,000 Ancient Artifacts, Including Pottery Fragments, Animal Bones, And Shells, That Will Help Experts Better Understand Day-To-Day Life In Ancient Jeddah
In Saudi Arabia, archaeologists uncovered about 25,000 ancient artifacts. They were located in Jeddah, a port city situated near the coast of the Red Sea and the second-largest city in the country overall. The finds were made during an ongoing project aimed at exploring the city’s historic district, which is known as al-Balad.
According to the Jeddah Historic District Program (JDHP), more than 11,400 fragments of pottery, approximately 11,400 animal bones, and roughly 1,700 shells made up the collection of remains.
Additionally, there were artifacts and building materials made from glass and metal. The objects will help experts construct a clearer picture of what day-to-day life was like in ancient Jeddah.
“For example, fragments of pottery can teach us about the far-reaching network of the ancient Caliphates,” said Laurence Haipot, the director of the Department of Antiquities Care with the JDHP.
“Meanwhile, the meticulous study of animal bones and plant remains found during archaeological excavations allows our researchers to reconstruct not only the diet of the ancestors of modern-day Jeddah but also the environmental and climatic conditions of the past.”
Historically, al-Balad served as the center of Jeddah. Ever since the city was established in the seventh century, al-Balad has been well-preserved. Today, the district is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the past, the district was an important trading port, channeling goods from trading routes in the Indian Ocean to Mecca. It also served as the primary gateway for Muslim pilgrims who arrived by sea to Mecca.
Today, the town is famous for its traditional architecture, which was constructed with coral stone and decorated with wooden lattice windows, attracting many tourists and helping Jeddah continue to thrive.
Previously, archaeologists did not have any concrete evidence of the timeline of Jeddah. Due to historical texts and accounts from travelers, they knew that the city dated back to at least the seventh century. But, until recent excavations, they had not been able to view the city through an archaeological lens.
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The artifacts from Jeddah were from four different sites in the city, including the Othman bin Affan Mosque, al-Shona, the Eastern Moat, and a section of the Northern Wall.
The oldest of the objects dates back to the seventh and eighth centuries. Further research of the Othman bin Affan Mosque revealed that it was at least 1,200 years old.
Some of the pottery fragments that were unearthed came from ceramic vessels and high-quality porcelain that was made in the Jiangxi province of China sometime between the 16th and 19th centuries.
Furthermore, researchers examined ebony pillars that flanked a niche in the wall of a mosque. The pillars seemed to be from the seventh and eighth centuries.
Ebony is a dense wood of a black color that originated from Ceylon Island, now known as Sri Lanka. The presence of materials that were imported from faraway places showcases the extensive network of trade that ancient Jeddah was a part of.
In addition, several tombstones made out of marble and granite were detected in various areas of the city. The tombstones seem to date back to the eighth and ninth centuries. They are engraved with names, epitaphs, and religious text.
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