Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Western Terrace
Classical (300 BCE-300 CE)·Kindah·🇸🇦 Riyadh, Wadi al-Dawasir, Saudi Arabia
About
About Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Western Terrace
Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Western Terrace 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 chamber 8 × 4 m and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 19.3302N 45.1203E 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
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Tribal capital and ritual aggregation
- 02Seasonal gathering locus
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
- Excavated
c. 100 CE
Initial construction of Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Western Terrace main structure
c. 1283 CE
Secondary occupation / refurbishment at Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Western Terrace
19th–20th century
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Western Terrace) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
19.3302° N · 45.1203° E · 618 m · 3 mapped features
Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Western Terrace — Main Ancient-City Feature
templePrimary temple at Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Western Terrace — burial gallery with stratified deposits
19.3321° N · 45.1222° EQaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Western Terrace — Secondary Enclosure
chamberAncillary chamber at Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Western Terrace — platform mound with stratified deposits
19.3300° N · 45.1214° EQaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Western Terrace — Outlier Rock Art Panel
cairnOutlier cairn panel linked to Qaryat al-Faw Market Street East Annex — Western Terrace ceremonial landscape
19.3320° N · 45.1188° E