Saudi-French delegation reveals historical sites dating back to 100,000 years

A Saudi-French delegation for archaeological exploration supervised by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage discovered historical sites dating back to about 100,000 years in a number of mountains south of Riyadh in the city of al-Kharj.

The delegation’s field survey included the mountains surrounding al-Kharj overlooking Wadi Nisah and mountains overlooking the town of al-Shadida. The sites date back to the Paleolithic period about 100,000 years ago, and they are the first sites discovered from that period in al-Kharj.

Broken clay pots, some plain and some painted in green, and a number of broken bracelets made of glass and colored in yellow, red and blue were found, as well as pieces of stone bowls and trays.

The delegation, which was made up of 18 scientists and specialists in the field of archaeological excavations, also discovered human remains dating about 5,000 years old. A 56-centimeter long bronze sword was also found from the same period.

The delegation also discovered a number of ancient farms and architectural structures dating back to the fifth century AH, with a number of Arabic inscriptions without punctuation, which is the oldest Islamic writing in the central region of the Arabian Peninsula.

Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, had received the delegation at the commission’s headquarters in Riyadh.