Gold Pendant

The Gold Pendant is a rectangular-shaped pendant made of ceramic, discovered in Qaryat al-Faw Archaeological Site, southeast of Wadi ad-Dawasir Governorate, Riyadh Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It dates back to the period between the third century BCE and the third century CE and was used as an ornamental accessory.

The base of the gold pendant measures 1.6 cm × 1.2 cm, a width of 1.5 cm, and a height of 3.8 cm. The pendant's surface features raised embellishments, set within a gold-made base with an elevated edge, decorated with a continuous sequence of alternating triangles, one pointing downward and the next pointing upward. These triangles are composed of small, raised balls arranged side by side. The spaces between the upper triangles form arch-like shapes, and the top is covered with a gold-framed lid, within which horizontally aligned circles are arranged. Each circle contains four small raised balls. The left corner of the lid is encircled by a band consisting of three lines, two twisted lines enclosing a cylindrical-shaped central line. To its right, there is another band composed of three lines, with the middle one being cylindrical, while the outer lines are twisted. This band ends at the top with a solid cylindrical intersected structure, which is believed to have been used for hanging. A band runs diagonally across the pendant from one corner to the opposite, composed of two twisted lines enclosing a cylindrical line. In the center of this band is an oval frame with serrated edges, supporting an additional inner edge, within which a turquoise-colored bead is embedded.

The gold pendant is preserved at the Department of Archaeology at King Saud University in the capital, Riyadh. It was selected for display, along with other historically significant archaeological discoveries from Saudi Arabia in the Saudi Archeological Masterpieces Through the Ages Exhibition. It is among the discoveries resulting from archaeological survey and excavation efforts conducted by the Antiquities and Museums Sector in Saudi Arabia over the years and one of the findings made by Saudi archaeologists, scientific missions, and specialized research teams. The gold pendant is registered under number 35 F 8.

The discovery of the gold pendant highlights the craftsmanship in utilizing gold, the art of encasing and crowning precious stones, and the skill of embedding gemstones into gold bands. The meticulous adornment of women with this type of jewelry reveals the status of women in the flourishing al-Faw societies.