Saudi Arabia: more than 1,700 artifacts discovered along pilgrimage route to Makkah (Mecca)

In Saudi Arabia, a joint archaeological mission between theUniversity of Exeter and the Saudi Heritage Commission has unearthed more than 1,700 artifacts and completed the first systematic survey at the site of Miqat Al-Juhfah. The activities are part of the program of reconnaissance and documentation of archaeological sites promoted as part of the Ministry of Culture’s cultural initiatives.

The site of Miqat Al-Juhfah is located about 187 kilometers northwest of Makkah, also known as Mecca, and is considered one of the oldest miqats in the Islamic world. The term miqat denotes an established point at which pilgrims heading to Mecca for Hajj or Umrah assume the status of ihram, marking the beginning of the pilgrimage. The site is also linked to the migration of the Prophet Muhammad and is attested as an area of great frequentation in the early centuries of Islam, particularly between the 8th and 9th centuries CE, when service facilities such as stores and water infrastructure were present.

The excavations have returned a wide range of materials, including pottery, glass, stone elements, shells and worked objects. According to reports, the finds also include artifacts related to the daily life of pilgrims, such as beads, metal elements and shells. Among the discoveries considered most significant are six kilns for the production of pottery and a water channel believed to be functional in supplying water for travelers and pilgrims.

Thirteen tombstones were also identified, some of them attributed to the Umayyad and Abbasid periods. Analysis of the materials also indicates a diverse geographical origin of the finds, with traces traceable to the Levant, Egypt and Ethiopia, an element suggesting the passage of pilgrims from different areas along the main pilgrimage routes, including the so-called Egyptian route to Makkah or Mecca.

The survey and excavation activities at the Miqat Al-Juhfah site are part of the Saudi Heritage Commission’s initiatives aimed at identifying, documenting and protecting places of archaeological and historical interest in the country. The discovery reportedly contributes to expanding knowledge of the dynamics of pilgrimage routes and supporting infrastructure active along the historic routes to the city.

Saudi Arabia: more than 1,700 artifacts discovered along pilgrimage route to Makkah (Mecca)

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