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| Source: SCTH. The commercial area consists of two adjacent rows of rectangular chambers, each divided into two parts, a display area, and an inner room used as for storage. |
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) has launched an archaeological exploration at the Ashem archaeological site in Al Baha region, KSA.
The site is in the Tohama region, west of Al-Baha Province. It was already prosperous before Islam and was famous for minerals and mining, and was considered as one of the most important mining settlements in the early Islamic period. It was also a pilgrimage station on the old Hajj route linking the southern Arabian Peninsula, mainly from Yemen to Makkah on the Red Sea coast. Investigations indicate that mining activities were carried out until the sixth Hijri century (1106–1203).
The site is 600x1,500 sq m, stretching from east to west, and comprises a village with over 400 houses built of dark basalt bricks assembled without using mortar. Some of the houses have only one room while others consist of two or more.
The first archeological work was carried out on the site in 1981. It involved surveying the mining sites on its south and west sides. The survey work reported the presence of mining traces on the site besides a spread of a large number of pottery and glass fragments on its surface. The site also features stone objects for grinding grain. A survey of the site was conducted by a team from the Antiquities Sector in 2006, which also entered the site into the national digital map programme.
The current project focuses on the fenced area of the site including the market and will verify the density of archaeological objects on its surface. Tools and methods for mining will also be examined.
Archeological works have discovered walls of 45cm to 70cm in width, and outcrops of square columns, 80cm to 1m high and about 80cm x 80cm in width, in addition to terraces with heights varying from 30cm to 70cm and about 60cm wide. These are believed to have been used for sales activities. The commercial area consists of two adjacent rows of rectangular chambers, each divided into two parts, a display area, and an inner room used as for storage.
Archaeological works have found site restoration work that may have been carried out while the settlement was active. A number of archaeological artefacts were found in the excavation area, which consisted of parts of the edges, and bases of small crockery. Medium-sized glazed pottery was also found in different colours, including light green, blue, yellow, red and brown.
In addition, a set of full crockery, a medium-sized pitcher, a small cup, semi-finished crockery, and a semi-finished light green vase were also found. Sandstone objects with smooth surfaces and some surface decoration have also been discovered. Metal-based discoveries at the site include partly-oxidised metal coins, as well as a medium-sized metal spoon, an unidentified utensil and metal pins.
The site is in the Tohama region, west of Al-Baha Province. It was already prosperous before Islam and was famous for minerals and mining, and was considered as one of the most important mining settlements in the early Islamic period. It was also a pilgrimage station on the old Hajj route linking the southern Arabian Peninsula, mainly from Yemen to Makkah on the Red Sea coast. Investigations indicate that mining activities were carried out until the sixth Hijri century (1106–1203).
The site is 600x1,500 sq m, stretching from east to west, and comprises a village with over 400 houses built of dark basalt bricks assembled without using mortar. Some of the houses have only one room while others consist of two or more.
The first archeological work was carried out on the site in 1981. It involved surveying the mining sites on its south and west sides. The survey work reported the presence of mining traces on the site besides a spread of a large number of pottery and glass fragments on its surface. The site also features stone objects for grinding grain. A survey of the site was conducted by a team from the Antiquities Sector in 2006, which also entered the site into the national digital map programme.
The current project focuses on the fenced area of the site including the market and will verify the density of archaeological objects on its surface. Tools and methods for mining will also be examined.
Archeological works have discovered walls of 45cm to 70cm in width, and outcrops of square columns, 80cm to 1m high and about 80cm x 80cm in width, in addition to terraces with heights varying from 30cm to 70cm and about 60cm wide. These are believed to have been used for sales activities. The commercial area consists of two adjacent rows of rectangular chambers, each divided into two parts, a display area, and an inner room used as for storage.
Archaeological works have found site restoration work that may have been carried out while the settlement was active. A number of archaeological artefacts were found in the excavation area, which consisted of parts of the edges, and bases of small crockery. Medium-sized glazed pottery was also found in different colours, including light green, blue, yellow, red and brown.
In addition, a set of full crockery, a medium-sized pitcher, a small cup, semi-finished crockery, and a semi-finished light green vase were also found. Sandstone objects with smooth surfaces and some surface decoration have also been discovered. Metal-based discoveries at the site include partly-oxidised metal coins, as well as a medium-sized metal spoon, an unidentified utensil and metal pins.