Historic Forts and Castles in Al-Bahah Province
Historic forts and castles in Al-Bahah Province are archaeological sites distributed across Al-Bahah Province in southwestern of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Their number reaches about two hundred forts and castles, built in a distinctive architectural style. They stand as witnesses to bygone eras dating back approximately six hundred years; scarcely a village or hamlet in the province’s governorates and centers is without a fort.
The Architectural Style of Al-Bahah Province’s Forts and Castles
The height of the historic forts and castles in Al-Bahah Province ranges between approximately 20 and 25 m. They consist of three to four floors and a main entrance. The stairways resemble shelves and are used to climb to the top of the fort.
They are located on mountain peaks or at the edges of villages, in geographical positions overlooking them. Their architectural pattern utilizes materials from the local environment. The top of the fort is framed with a border of rectangular stones known as “al-duqoon,” above which a wall 1.5 m high is built, called “al-jawn,” decorated and ornamented with white quartz stones, either in the form of an upper belt or arranged as triangles.
The forts take a range of shapes in their construction, though they are most often square or rectangular. The thickness of the fort wall is about ninety-six cm, and it includes a number of small rooms with a water pool in the middle, filled by rainwater through channels designed within the fort.
The fort widens at its base and narrows as it rises, forming a precise and aesthetically pleasing geometric structure. The forts in Al-Bahah Province are layered internally, reaching five or six levels to accommodate a greater number of people. Wood is an essential element in building forts, along with stone, and openings are designated for surveillance, resembling towers that reveal all sides of the fort.
History of the Historic Forts and Castles in Al-Bahah Province
The forts and castles of Al-Bahah Province were built in earlier periods. In the past, they served as observation posts, often taking the form of tall geometric cones. They were considered safe places for protection and were also used to identify suitable terraces for cultivation by observing from their tops.
In addition to protective forts, there are forts for storing agricultural crops and preserving them from weather factors, as well as from attacks by birds, animals, insects, and pests. Part of these forts is also allocated as storage for tools and machinery used in agriculture. Their construction is usually small, with dimensions not exceeding three m in length, one m in width, and a height of four m. This differs from strategic forts that meet residents’ needs for provisions and equipment, which are typically built in the middle of the village at a height of no less than twelve m.
Among the forts and castles of Al-Bahah Province are the Twin Fortresses in Al-Malad village, south of Al-Bahah city; the forts of Heznah village in Bani Kabir; the Al-Saheefah forts in Baljurashi; and Al-Uyaynah Fort in Al-Qara Governorate.
Sources
Antiquities of Al-Bahah Province, Ministry of Education, 2003.