The Antiquities in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province are the physical remains and legacies of ancient human civilizations in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province, west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The oldest of these antiquities dates back to the Early Paleolithic era and beyond. The province includes the Prophet's Mosque, the second holiest site for Muslims after the Grand Mosque in Makkah al-Mukarramah, and one of the largest mosques in the world. It houses the chamber where the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him (PBUH), and his two companions, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with them, are buried. The province also features the Hijr City, the first archaeological site in the Kingdom to be inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List.
The antiquities in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province during prehistoric times
Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province include numerous archaeological sites that span time periods from prehistoric eras, through pre-Islamic times, and into the Islamic eras.
Five sites in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province have been recorded as dating back to the Paleolithic era, specifically between 250,000 BCE and 100,000 BCE. Discovered along the banks of valleys in Harrat Khaybar, such as the valleys of al-Ghars, Ghamrah, al-Hufayrah, and al-Qa'a, are stone tools dating back to the Acheulean period. These tools include axes, bifacially sharpened tools, cutters, pickaxes, and large hammering tools.
Stone tools were found in the northern and western parts of Harrat Khaybar, dating back to the Middle Stone Age. These tools include sharpened blades on one edge, a large number of scrapers, chisels, awls, and pointed tools.
Several sites in Harrat Khaybar have revealed structures dating back to the Neolithic era, particularly near one of the branches of al-Ghars Valley. These structures consist of a series of low walls forming a fence that encloses an oval area. Within this area, there are clusters of stone circles, along with various stone tools such as scrapers, blades, sharpened flakes, grindstones, and triangular tools that may have been arrowheads.
These stone circles and alignments, which represent previous settlements from the Neolithic era, appear densely in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province. They are found in the volcanic fields (harrats), on mountain surfaces such as Mount 'Ayr and Mount al-Bayda', and along the edges of valleys like Wadi al-Aqiq.
Numerous rock art sites from the Neolithic era are found in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province, depicting the daily life of those ancient communities. These artworks illustrate scenes of hunting, battles involving camels and other animals, and human figures. Notable sites include Wadi as-Suwadirah, Mount Uhayn, as well as locations in al-Ula Governorate, Hijr, and Wadi Nakhli in Yanbu al-Nakhl.
In 2024, the Heritage Commission revealed evidence of human settlement in Umm Jirsan Cave, located in Harrat Khaybar. Archaeological surveys and excavations in parts of Umm Jirsan Cave have revealed that the earliest archaeological evidence at the site dates back to the Neolithic era, ranging in age from seven thousand to ten thousand years. This evidence continues through the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages. The archaeological study of the cave also indicated that it was used by pastoral communities, as evidenced by a collection of animal bone remains, the oldest of which dates back to 4,100 years BCE. Additionally, human skulls were found, with the oldest dating back to 6,000 years BCE.
The antiquities in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province during pre-Islamic times
Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province is considered one of the ancient flourishing cultural centers and a vital passage for trade caravans, including the Incense Route, which passed through Yathrib on its way to al-Ula Governorate. The province also included several ports and harbors, such as al-Jar Port, Yanbu Port, and al-Hawra' Port, some of which were mentioned on two stelae found in the ruins of the Grand Mosque in Harran. These stelae recount the campaign of the Babylonian King Nabonidus to Tayma and his travels between several cities in the province.
Yathrib, al-Ula, Hijr, Khaybar, and al-'Is were significant cultural centers along the Incense Trade Route, as evidenced by archaeological remains such as inscriptions in al-Ula Governorate, which bear the names of families, tribes, and deities.
Inscriptions in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah during the Pre-Islamic Era
Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province is home to a vast number of ancient inscriptions in various scripts, including Dadanitic, Lihyanitic, Minaean, Thamudic, Aramaic, Nabataean, and Greek. These have been documented as follows:
Khaybar: A collection of Thamudic inscriptions has been recorded at locations such as al-Ayn, Mount Atwi, and al-Hardha Mountains.
Al-Ula and Hijr: A total of 108 sites with ancient inscriptions have been documented. These include stones that were repurposed in the construction of houses in ad-Dirah neighborhood, inscriptions at Mount Umm al-Daraj, and sites at Danan, Wadi Sidr, Shakhtib, as well as a large number of Lihyanitic inscriptions carved into the rock at Mount Ikmah and Minaean inscriptions at Mount al-Khuraybah.
Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah: Several sites around al-Madinah al-Munawwarah have been recorded with ancient inscriptions, including Wadi al-Aqiq, Wadi an-Naqmi, al-Hanakiyyah, and Buat.
Yanbu al-Nakhl: Eight sites containing Thamudic inscriptions have been documented.
Al-Hanakiyyah: A collection of human and animal depictions, along with inscriptions in the South Arabian script (Musnad), have been found, particularly concentrated around Mount Uhayn.
Antiquities in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province during the Islamic Era
Antiquities along the pilgrimage routes
On Zubaida Trail, which connects Kufa to Makkah al-Mukarramah, remnants of stations, dwellings, reservoirs, wells, dams, ancient mines, and Islamic inscriptions carved into rock faces can be observed.
Along the Kufa-al-Madinah al-Munawwarah route, notable antiquities include Islamic inscriptions carved into the rock faces at al-Suwaydira, dating back to the seventh to ninth centuries. These include the remains of al-Sa'ib Well and several carved inscriptions, one of which is dated to 782.
The pilgrimage route from Syria is marked by forts, castles, inscriptions, writings, and ruins of ancient cities. Notable sites include the fort, well, and reservoir adjacent to it, as well as the site of al-Mabiyat, the site of al-Faqir in al-Mughirah, Zumrud Fortress, Istabl Antar Fortress, al-Fahlatain Fortress, Naseef Wells, and al-Hufayrah Fortress.
Historical landmarks along the migration route between Makkah al-Mukarramah and al-Madinah al-Munawwarah include: inscriptions, carvings, water structures, and remnants of residential buildings in the areas of Hima al-Naqee, Mount Wirqan, the Badr area, and Mount Subh.
Mosques and sites from early Islam in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah
The number of historical mosques in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, which witnessed events during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and the Rightly Guided Caliphs, is estimated to be around forty-nine. Some of these mosques are still standing and continue to be used for prayers. These include Quba Mosque, al-Ghamama Mosque, al-Ijabah Mosque, as-Sajdah Mosque, al-Aswaf Mosque, al-Jumuah Mosque, Miqat Mosque, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque, Ali Bin Abi Talib Mosque, Umar Ibn al-Khattab Mosque, Banu Anif Mosque, al-Qiblatain Mosque (Banu Salamah), Bani Haram Mosque, as-Suqya Mosque, al-Manaratain Mosque (Bani Dinar), and Bani Waqif Mosque and Fortress.
Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah also contains archaeological sites and water wells from the prophetic era, the period of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and early Islam. Notable sites include Saqifah Banu Sa'idah, ad-Dhabi Road, the Prophet's Market, Thaniyat al-Wada', the house of Kulthum Ibn al-Hadm, Quba Fortress, al-Khatam Well, al-Faqir Well, al-Ghars Well, al-Ihn Well, Azaq Well, Rumah Well (Uthman Ibn Affan's Well), Mount Uhud, the Cemetery of the Martyrs of Uhud, Mount of the Archers (Mount Aynayn), and al-Baqi' al-Gharqad Cemetery.
The archaeological inscriptions in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah during the Islamic Era
The number of archaeological sites recorded by the former General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province reached 1,382 by the beginning of 2018. The efforts to discover and document more sites continue, particularly focusing on the Islamic inscriptions and rock art spread throughout al-Madinah al-Munawwarah.
Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah contains ancient archaeological inscriptions, some of which date back to the early seventh century. These Islamic inscriptions are distributed across the slopes of mountains, on rocks, along the banks of valleys within al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, and in surrounding villages. The majority of the inscriptions show reliance on the Madani script to carve the inscriptions onto rocks, with careful attention given to the drawing of the letters and maintaining precise spacing between them. Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah contains over three thousand inscriptions from various historical periods, with some of them already documented.
Among the inscriptions from the Islamic era, notable examples include the foundational inscription of Muawiyah’s Dam, the inscription of Ranuna Dam, a milestone from the early Abbasid period, a milestone from al-Rabadha, the inscription of Caliph al-Muqtadir Billah, and inscriptions from Mahd al-Dhahab, Wadi al-Khanq, Wadi Dubu'ah, Mount al-Bayda', and Wadi al-Mu'tadil. One of the earliest Islamic inscriptions discovered in the Kingdom dates back to 644. Other significant inscriptions include one from the seventh century, a poetic inscription from Rawawah, an inscription dated to 695, an undated inscription from al-Hanakiyyah, an inscription from Khaybar dated 746, and an inscription from as-Suwaydirah dated 811.
Among the discovered tombstones in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province are a tombstone from al-Rabadha, a decorated tombstone from al-Mabiyat in al-Ula, and a tombstone from as-Suwayriqiyyah found in the old mosque.
Architectural and historical water structures in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province
Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province witnessed the construction of numerous religious, civil, and military buildings during the Islamic era and beyond. These include palaces, fortresses, towers, and mosques, among which is the Prophet's Mosque, built in the first year of the Hijrah. The Prophet's Mosque has undergone successive phases of development and expansion since the time of Caliph Uthman Ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, and later under the reigns of al-Walid Ibn Abdul-Malik, al-Mahdi of the Abbasid dynasty, and continuing with the expansions carried out during the reigns of the Kings of the Kingdom.
Among the ancient dams in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province that still exist today are al-Qusaybah Dam (also known as al-Bint), al-Husaid Dam on one of the tributaries of Wadi al-Ghars, al-Zaydiyah Dam in Khaybar, al-Mashqooq Dam north of Khaybar, Muawiyah Dam in Wadi al-Khanq, and Ranuna Dam in Wadi Ranuna south of Quba, which is attributed to Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Uthman Ibn Affan.
Palaces and historical houses in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province
Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province experienced a significant architectural boom during the Islamic era, characterized by the construction of palaces, fortresses, and houses. These structures were notable for their well-thought-out planning, architectural decorations, and impressive size. Among them were the palaces of Wadi al-Aqiq, numbering more than eighty, and the palaces of Wadi Dhu Khashab.
Among the palaces in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province whose remains still exist today are the palace of Sa'id Ibn al-'As, who governed al-Madinah al-Munawwarah in 668; the palace of Hisham Ibn Abd al-Malik near the Urwah Dam on Wadi al-Aqiq; and the Umayyad palaces in al-Mandassah area.
Among the palaces is the palace of Urwah Bin al-Zubayr, located on the banks of Wadi al-Aqiq west of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. It lies along the road leading to the Mosque of Dhu al-Hulayfah (the Miqat of the people of al-Madinah) on the old road to Jeddah and Makkah al-Mukarramah via the wells of Ali. The palace is approximately 3.5 km from the Prophet's Mosque.
Archaeological sites in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province
Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province includes several archaeological sites that highlight aspects of its rich history, including:
Al-Jar Site: An ancient port located on the Red Sea coast, north of ar-Rayis (Ras al-Buraika). Caliph Umar Ibn al-Khattab built storage facilities there to receive supplies from Egypt during the Year of the Ashes. Currently, the site features a collection of archaeological mounds, walls, and houses built from limestone. Artifacts found at the site include pottery, glass fragments, and a Roman coin dated between 350-353.
Hadhah Site: This site displays the ancient landmarks of the pilgrimage route from the northern side, along with some Islamic inscriptions on the rocks of Wadi Hadhah.
Khaybar Site: Known for its numerous fortresses, some of which date back to pre-Islamic times, including the fortress of Marhab. The site also contains ancient dams constructed from volcanic stones.
Al-Rabadha Site: Archaeological excavations have revealed a large Islamic city with palaces and houses built from mudbrick, supported by circular and semi-circular towers. The site also includes a marketplace, numerous underground water cisterns, food ovens, a significant quantity of pottery, ceramics, glass artifacts, stone tools, and Islamic coins dating from the seventh to ninth centuries. Additionally, there are buried wells and large circular and square pools, demonstrating the advanced architectural skills of Muslims during that period.
ِAl-'Is Site: Located northwest of Yanbu, it features al-Far'a Fortress, built from carved basalt stones, dating back to the late Arab kingdoms. Pottery fragments resembling Nabataean, Roman, and Umayyad pottery have been found, along with ruins of fortresses and watchtowers like al-Humaymah (Humaymat al-Ayn), water collection stations and pools such as Birkat al-Hajj and Birkat Shu'ayb al-Nurah, as well as al-Qasbah Palace and the Awrash Market.
Mahd adh-Dhahab (Ma'din Bani Sulaim) Site: Archaeological teams have uncovered traces of a vast Islamic city, including a circular pool, the remains of a large palace with circular towers, and a small mosque. Evidence of ancient tools used to extract and process gold ore has been found, along with the ruins of workers' dwellings.
Antiquities in Yanbu and al-'Is Governorates
In 2024, the Heritage Commission conducted the first season of a project to survey and document rock art sites and ancient and Islamic inscriptions in Yanbu and al-'Is Governorates in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province. The project aims to uncover scientific and historical evidence related to these sites, shedding light on the rich cultural and historical heritage of the region. The archaeological survey covered sixteen sites, documenting a total of 128 locations, which included sites for rock art, Islamic inscriptions, and ancient inscriptions. The documented sites included 991 Islamic inscriptions, 151 ancient inscriptions, and 1,367 locations of rock art.
Antiquities of al-Ula Governorate in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province
Al-Ula Governorate is located north of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province in Wadi al-Qura. The area has been home to ancient civilizations dating back to prehistoric times and includes several archaeological sites, such as:
Hijr: Located north of al-Ula Governorate, Hijr was the second city of the Nabataeans after Petra. The site showcases the remains of their civilization, including rock-cut tombs, places of worship at Mount Ithlib, and carved niches scattered across the rock faces. The site also features wells carved into the rock and a residential area in the expansive plain at the center of the site. Archaeological findings at Hijr include building foundations, coins, pottery, stone basins, incense burners, lamps, glassware, and small figurines of human and animal forms.
During the Islamic era, Hijr became one of the stations along the Levant Hajj Route. A fortress was built there following the prevailing Islamic architectural style of the time, along with a series of facilities and water structures.
The Old Town of al-Ula (ad-Dira Neighborhood): An Islamic city was built in an elevated area within the valley that stretches from the plains of Hijr to the plains of al-Mabiyat. From the outside, the town appears as a single structure due to the closely interconnected houses, which number 732 in total. The town has fourteen gates, and atop the mountainous area, al-Ula Fortress (Umm Nasser) was constructed, attributed to the Umayyad commander Musa Ibn Nusayr. The old town also contains five mosques, including al-Sakhra Mosque, which was built in 1378.
The old town also features a sundial known as al-Tantura, which was used for timekeeping and the distribution of water shares. Additionally, the town includes a public bath known as (Hammam al-Junaina), and carved stones with various symbols and ancient Islamic inscriptions.
Al-Khuraybah: These are the accumulated ruins of collapsed stone buildings, remnants of the capital of the Kingdom of Dadan and Lihyan. Among these ruins is the circular basin carved into the rock known as "al-Naqah's Trough" (Mahlib al-Naqah), and a collection of tombs carved in various shapes and sizes. Some of these tombs bear inscriptions of the names of their owners and their families, including the Lion Tombs, which feature sculptures of mythical animals on either side of the entrance. The site also contains numerous human statues, some of which are preserved in al-Ula Museum and the Saudi National Museum in Riyadh.
Ikmah: A narrow valley descending from Jabal Ikmah, it contains Lihyanite inscriptions that provide valuable information about the history of their civilization. The inscriptions are notable for their precise calligraphy, and the site also features rock carvings depicting animals, human figures, and some musical instruments.
Umm Daraj: A mountain named for the carved staircase that leads to its summit, where various archaeological features are spread across its surface. These include statues, incense burners, altars, inscriptions, pottery fragments, and both ancient and Islamic writings.
Al-Mabiyat: The remains of an Islamic city were discovered here, surrounded by a winding wall and featuring buildings made of gypsum and mud. Among the artifacts found are fragments of pottery and ceramics, including lusterware, one of the finest products of Islamic ceramics. Additionally, the site yielded a collection of coins, glassware, soapstone incense burners, and various inscriptions.
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