Al-Mabiyat Archaeological Village
Al-Mabiyat Archaeological Village, also known as Al-Qurh, is an Islamic archaeological settlement located south of AlUla Governorate in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Province, west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, about forty-eight km north of Hegra, capital of the Nabataean Kingdom in the Arabian Peninsula.
Emergence of Al-Mabiyat Archaeological Village
Al-Mabiyat Archaeological Village emerged in the early Islamic period. It was a primary urban site near Al-Mughayyrah Village, known for its wells and abundant farms. It is a walled Islamic city covering an area of about 640,000 m² and was inhabited between the seventh and twelfth centuries.
Historical significance of Al-Mabiyat Archaeological Village
Al-Mabiyat Archaeological Village is regarded as one of the historic stations and trade hubs on the Levant Hajj route, which links the Levant to the holy sites in the western region of the Arabian Peninsula. It served as the capital of Wadi Al-Qura region and its surrounding towns. It is likely the same as Al-Rahbah City, one of the towns in Wadi Al-Qura. Some researchers believe that it is Al-Khuraybah Archaeological Site near AlUla City.
Features of Al-Mabiyat Archaeological Village
Al-Mabiyat Archaeological Village included a group of Arab markets that were well-known in the pre-Islamic period. It reached a level of growth and prosperity during the Islamic era that made it, during the tenth to late twelfth centuries, the fourth city among Arabs after Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and Al-Yamamah in Najd.
History of Al-Mabiyat Archaeological Village
The geographic boundaries of Al-Mabiyat Archaeological Village disappeared in the twelfth century, leaving only the ruins of visible buildings and flowing water that no one needed. Today, it is an uninhabited land surrounded by a winding wall made of mudbrick and clay with three main entrances. Overlooking the site is a military fortress built on a high hill.
The village has been under excavation since the 1980s, revealing residential units, ceramic and pottery artifacts, glass and metal finds, as well as cymbals and coins.