Rectangular Limestone Block

The Rectangular Limestone Block is a limestone block in a rectangular shape discovered in the archeological Qaryat al-Faw, located southeast of Wadi ad-Dawasir Governorate, Riyadh Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It dates back between the third century BCE and the third century CE and was used for introductory purposes.

The rectangular limestone block measures fifty-nine cm in length, seventeen cm in width, and seventeen cm in height. It is an architectural element composed of a row of ibex heads, totaling fifteen heads, executed in relief carving with an abstract representation. Each head is conical, facing downward, with triangular horns pointing upward and circular protruding eyes. On the sides, there are architectural elements representing doors and staircases, which were known as key architectural features of that period. The block was later repurposed, and an inscription was carved in the Musnad script using deep incision techniques over its polished face. The inscription consists of three lines and reads as follows:

Dhaal, Noon / Qaaf, Baa, Raa / Haa, Meem, Waaw / Meem, Seen, Ayn, Daal / Laam, Ayn, Daal, Meem / Baa, Noon, Yaa / Daal, Ayn

Noon, Meem / Ghayn, Laam, Waaw, Noon, Yaa, Noon / Waaw, Haa, Ayn, Dhaal, Haa / Baa, Kaaf, Haa, Laam / Meem, Noon / Alif, Faa

Kaaf, Laam, Meem / Waaw, Seen, Qaaf, Taa, Meem / Waaw, Haa, Ayn, Dhaal, Haa / Meem, Haa, Ayn, Dhaal, Haa / Alif, Raa, Meem / Alif, Noon, Meem, Haa

The rectangular limestone block is preserved at the Museum of the Archaeology Department at King Saud University in Riyadh and was selected as part of a diverse collection of archeological discoveries from Saudi Arabia for display in the Saudi Archeological Masterpieces Through the Ages Exhibition. The inscribed slab was found during archeological survey and excavation efforts conducted by the antiquities and museums sector in Saudi Arabia over the past years, as part of the discoveries made by Saudi archeologists and scientific missions. The limestone block is registered under number 3 Q 12.

Alongside its inscription, the rectangular limestone block features artistic elements reflecting South Arabian art through architectural elements and ibex sculptures arranged in abstract shapes.