Golden Palm and Arm

The Golden Palm and Arm is an artistic artifact consisting of a hand covering made of gold, featuring the palm and arm. The hand is depicted with the back of a small palm and fingers ending in triangular-shaped nails. The joints of the fingers are clearly visible, and the wrist appears wide. At the end of the wrist, three perforations are present, used to secure the model. It was discovered in the historic Thaj City, the largest archaeological site of the Hellenistic period in the eastern Arabian Peninsula. The site is located about eighty-five km southwest of al-Jubail City in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.‏

The history of the golden palm and arm dates back to one hundred BCE and is displayed at the Saudi National Museum in Riyadh. The piece was part of a collection of numerous archaeological discoveries from Saudi Arabia, showcased in the Saudi Archaeological Masterpieces Through the Ages Exhibition. The exhibition began its tour at the Louvre Museum in the French capital, Paris, in 2010, and visited several countries across Europe, Asia, and America. The discovery of the hand covering is part of the results of archaeological surveys and excavations conducted by the Antiquities and Museums Sector in Saudi Arabia over the past years, and is among the findings of Saudi archaeologists and scientific missions.

The golden palm and arm was crafted using the technique of hammering. It measures fifteen cm in length and 4.5 cm in width. It was found in the same tomb where the mask of the woman of Thaj was discovered, confirming that it is part of the treasure associated with the young princess of the tomb, within the treasure of the unknown princess. This discovery carries numerous cultural aspects of the late Thāj civilization and indicates the deeply rooted concept of the afterlife in Thāj society before Islam, as well as the social significance of the tomb’s owner. The golden palm and arm is registered under number 2063.