The fourth season of excavations at the archaeological site of 'Hulait' in the Dawadmi Governorate in the Riyadh region has revealed new evidence documenting the history of mining and trade during early Islam, through the discovery of parts of an integrated village comprising a mosque, markets, and workshops.

The excavations showed evidence of the oldest gold mines in the Arabian Peninsula, including the discovery of 18 architectural units, a stone weight inscribed with the measure of a 'ratl', in addition to jewelry, adornments, and remnants of pottery, stone, and glass vessels and tools.

These findings enhance the importance of the Hulait site as one of the most prominent historical mining sites in the Arabian Peninsula, and what it reveals about the cultural depth and economic role during the early Islamic eras.

1 / 5