Al-Akhdood

Al-Akhdood is an archaeological site in the Najran Region of south-western Saudi Arabia, identified as the ancient city of Najran and its commercial market on the old caravan route. [1]

It is among the best-known historical landmarks in the Kingdom and is associated with the story of the Companions of the Trench mentioned in the Holy Quran. Today it stands as a living open-air museum that welcomes visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom. [2]

The Al-Akhdood archaeological area lies in the south-west of Najran city and extends over an area of five square kilometres, set among the residential districts of that part of Najran Region. [1]

Historical inscriptions show that Najran was recorded under the letters "N J R N" from about 680 BC, and its name continued to appear in texts over the following centuries. [5]

The site of the city of Al-Akhdood is the ancient city of Najran and its commercial market on the old caravan route, before it fell into ruin in the fourth century AH and moved to a nearby location. [1]

The site's remains and features tell of periods of human settlement in the area extending from the first millennium BC to the end of the fourth century AD, a time when the civilisation of southern Arabia flourished as one of the most important stops on the ancient international overland incense route. [1]

The fortress, one of the most prominent architectural features of the site, dates from the period between the mid-first century BC and the mid-first millennium AD, the main phase of settlement at the site. [4]

The Al-Akhdood corner in the heritage village of the Najran Region presents the religious phases the site passed through in succession: paganism, then Judaism, then Christianity, then Islam. [3]

The archaeological layers reveal a central city enclosed by a wall some 235 metres long and 220 metres wide, with numerous projections and recesses; the foundations of the buildings were built of carved stone blocks between two and four metres high, while the upper parts were usually of mud brick or brick. [5][4]

At the centre of the site stands a square citadel with two main gates linked by a corridor flanked by rooms and side passages, bearing carved symbols, inscriptions and rock drawings. In the north-eastern part of the site lies a large granite millstone used to grind food grains, within the area of the market and the mosque discovered in 1417 AH. [1]

A pottery jar filled with silver coins was found at the site and named the "Najran Treasure"; cleaning some of the coins showed that they date to the Qatabanian king Yada' Ab Yinf, who ruled in the second half of the first century AD. [6]

The Heritage Commission announced the discovery of a number of South Arabian Musnad inscriptions, three rings and a bronze bull's head dating to pre-Islamic times, during excavation work at the Al-Akhdood site in the eleventh season (1444 AH / 2022 AD) with the participation of Saudi experts, along with pottery jars and an Attic ceramic vessel dated to the third century BC. Among the most notable of these inscriptions is one recorded on a granite stone in a single line, about 230 cm long and 48 cm high, with letters reaching 32 cm, making it the longest Musnad inscription found in the region; it belongs to an inhabitant of the site named Wahb Il bin Maqin, who mentions that he worked on the watering of his house and perhaps his palace. [7]

Survey and excavation work at the Al-Akhdood site began in 1399 AH / 1979 AD and led to the discovery of various architectural units, as well as the oldest mosque in Najran, located in the north-eastern part of the site. [5]

The Al-Akhdood archaeological area drew the attention of a number of European travellers who visited it, documented some of its inscriptions and excavated its antiquities, recording them in works, some of which were translated into Arabic. They include Joseph Halevy, John Philby and Philippe Lippens. [6]

The Heritage Commission established the Al-Akhdood Archaeological Site visitor centre on an area of about 300 square metres as a new stop in cultural enrichment projects under Saudi Vision 2030. It includes a hall introducing visitors to the site, the story of the Companions of the Trench and the archaeological research and excavation carried out there. [8]

Q: What is the Al-Akhdood site? A: It is an archaeological site in Najran Region representing the ancient city of Najran and its commercial market on the caravan route, extending over an area of five square kilometres in the south-west of Najran city. [1]

Q: What is the Al-Akhdood site associated with? A: It is associated with the story of the Companions of the Trench mentioned in the Holy Quran, and is among the best-known historical landmarks in the Kingdom and a living open-air museum for visitors. [2]

Q: When did survey and excavation work begin at the site? A: In 1399 AH / 1979 AD, and it led to the discovery of various architectural units and the oldest mosque in Najran. [5]

Q: What are the most notable archaeological discoveries at the site? A: The "Najran Treasure" of silver coins dating to the Qatabanian king Yada' Ab Yinf, and the longest Musnad inscription in the region at 230 cm, along with Musnad inscriptions, three rings and a bronze bull's head. [6][7]

Q: What religious phases did the Al-Akhdood site pass through? A: It passed in succession through paganism, then Judaism, then Christianity, then Islam. [3]

On the platform, a number of related topics sit alongside Al-Akhdood, among them the Hima Cultural Area, Qaryat al-Faw and Darb Zubaydah, while the Saudi National Museum offers a broader reading of the history of the Arabian Peninsula through its collections.