Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Northern Annex
Classical (300 BCE-300 CE)·Kindah·🇸🇦 Riyadh, Wadi al-Dawasir, Saudi Arabia
About
About Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Northern Annex
Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Northern Annex in Riyadh, Wadi al-Dawasir, Saudi Arabia is a Classical (300 BCE-300 CE) ancient city attributed to Kindah. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal citadel 10 × 5 m and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 19.3352N 45.1441E controls access to Riyadh, Wadi al-Dawasir resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey ancient-city for Riyadh, Wadi al-Dawasir, illustrating Kindah construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Nature of burial rites and population
- 02Landscape function
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 100 CE
- Period
- Classical (300 BCE-300 CE)
- Culture
- Kindah
- Purpose
- Fortified settlement and ceremonial centre controlling regional exchange
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 100 CE
Initial construction of Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Northern Annex main structure
c. 1210 CE
Secondary occupation / refurbishment at Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Northern Annex
1964–2010
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Northern Annex) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
19.3352° N · 45.1441° E · 624 m · 3 mapped features
Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Northern Annex — Main Ancient-City Feature
rock artPrimary rock art at Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Northern Annex — rock-cut facade with stratified deposits
19.3339° N · 45.1453° EQaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Northern Annex — Secondary Enclosure
hydraulicAncillary hydraulic at Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Northern Annex — central chambered cairn with stratified deposits
19.3344° N · 45.1454° EQaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Northern Annex — Outlier Rock Art Panel
necropolisOutlier necropolis panel linked to Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Northern Annex ceremonial landscape
19.3344° N · 45.1435° E