Pottery Camel Figurine with Jars

The Pottery Camel Figurine with Jars is an archaeological figurine made in the shape of a camel using coarse red clay. It was found in Qaryat al-Faw, located in the southeast of Wadi ad-Dawasir Governorate, Riyadh Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The figurine has lost many of its parts; the camel’s neck appears short, its head is triangular, and its eyes are formed by simple, irregular depressions. It has two ears in the form of prominent clay projections at the rear corners of its head, and the camel carries five jars on its back.

The dating of the pottery camel figurine is between the third century BCE and the third century CE. The camel figurine is exhibited at the Department of Archaeology at King Saud University in Riyadh City and was previously selected to participate with other archaeological discoveries of historical value in Saudi Arabia in the Saudi Archaeological Masterpieces Through the Ages Exhibition, which showcased artifacts related to Saudi heritage in the social, cultural, and economic fields.

The discovery of the pottery camel figurine is one of the results of the archaeological survey and excavation work carried out by the antiquities and museums sector in Saudi Arabia over recent years, as part of the efforts of Saudi archaeologists, scientific missions, and specialized research teams.

Although the execution of the pottery camel figurine is simple, it depicts the method of using camels to transport water in Qaryat al-Faw. It is registered under the number 32 Q 16.