Al-Ukhdud

الأخدود

Saudi Arabia · Najran

Ancient cityIntermittent excavation
Approximate period400 BCE — 900 CEApproximately from pre-Islamic South Arabia to the Early Islamic period See on the map ↓

In brief

Al-Ukhdud in the Najran valley was a walled city that developed at a crossroads of caravan routes. Excavations investigate houses and production areas alongside changes in settlement from pre-Islamic times to the Early Islamic period.

What was found?

  • 1Bull's-head-shaped altar

    It is an altar made of sandstone in the shape of a bull's head. It provides concrete evidence of ceremonial objects and stoneworking at the settlement.

  • 2Bronze statues

    The bronze statues found during excavations expand the settlement's repertoire of metal artifacts. Since the announcement did not explain whom they represent, they cannot be attributed to a particular deity or individual.

  • 3Inscribed incense burner

    It is an incense-burning vessel bearing ancient writing. It documents the use of writing on everyday or ceremonial objects as well.

  • 4Metal-smelting furnaces

    These are furnace remains associated with metalworking activities. They show that production took place in the city alongside trade.

  • 5Foundations of a building with rooms and courtyards

    The foundations of a building containing rooms and courtyards have been uncovered. The excavation announcement dates its architectural features to the third century BCE.

What does it point to?

El-Uhdud presents the picture of a city at the crossroads of caravan routes, where production and commerce took place together. Although the altar and incense burner point to ceremonial practices, these objects alone cannot be said to identify a particular faith.

What did it teach us?

  1. Showed that direct remains of metal production were found at the settlement.
  2. Documented pre-Islamic urban life through rooms, courtyards and inscribed objects.
  3. Provided an opportunity to trace the use of different neighborhoods from antiquity to the early centuries of Islam.

Images

Site of al-Ukhdud, Najran (3)
Richard Mortel · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Latest news / selected archive

It was announced that the 2025 season had uncovered building foundations dating to the third century BCE, a bull's-head-shaped altar, bronze statues and furnace remains associated with metal production.

Record

Culture
South Arabian; Late Antique Christianity; Early Islamic
First modern dig
1997
Team / historical
Khaled al-Zahrani and Jérémie Schiettecatte; Saudi Heritage Commission and CNRS
Coordinates
17.4773°, 44.1793°

Sources

  1. archeologie.culture.gouv.fr
  2. spa.gov.sa
  3. en.wikipedia.org
  4. Saudi Press Agency — Suudi-Fransız kazı heyetinin buluntuları

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