Al-Uyaynah Fort
Al-Uyaynah Fort is one of the historical forts in Al-Bahah Province, southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is located in Al-Qara Governorate, approximately forty km north of the center of Al-Bahah City.
Structure of Al-Uyaynah Fort
Generally, the shape of Al-Uyaynah Fort is pyramidal, with a square base. It stands eleven m tall, with the lower base measuring eight m wide and the upper base six m. The fort was built using the load-bearing wall technique, relying primarily on stacked stones. These stones were carefully assembled using interlocking and layering techniques, with stone fragments of varying sizes. The interior was then coated with a thick plaster made of mud and adobe.
Architectural style of Al-Uyaynah Fort
The archaeological research done at Al-Uyaynah Fort revealed the use of decorative stone elements at the top of the facades of surrounding buildings. These were protrusions known as "Al-Buruj," built atop stones jutting from the structure's edge, and served a protective function for the house.
In general, the design of forts and castles in the Al-Bahah Province considered environmental conditions such as terrain and climate, as well as social customs and traditions. These structures were built using stones and timber sourced from across the province, typically granite and basalt adorned with quartz. Roofs were constructed with juniper wood and coated with layers of mud.