Fourth Excavation Season Ends at Al-Ma'mala in Al-Baha

The Saudi Heritage Commission concluded on 13 September 2026 the fourth season of archaeological excavations at the Al-Ma'mala site in Al-Aqiq Governorate, Al-Baha Region, documenting fresh evidence of an urban settlement more than a millennium old.

The season's most notable discovery was a heritage mosque dating to the first Hijri century, located in the western residential area of the site. Built from dressed granite stones, the mosque measures 16 meters north–south and 10 meters east–west, and features a simple, precise design across its mihrab, entrances, and square minaret. It has three entrances — east, west, and south — and is attached to eight service rooms, reflecting an organized use of space in early Islamic architecture. The minaret stands in the southeastern part of the mosque.

Islamic inscriptions were documented on the Qibla wall and an exterior wall, including supplications and Qur'anic texts, while traces of gypsum plaster remain on the interior walls. Excavations also revealed multiple residential units surrounding the mosque, adding to the picture of daily life at the ancient settlement.

A window into daily life

Across the excavation seasons, teams have documented stone tools such as pestles, grinders, and millstone fragments, alongside soapstone vessel fragments, pottery with geometric motifs, green and gray glass pieces, and metal implements — evidence of domestic, craft, and commercial activity. The site's construction shows advanced techniques, with granite walls between 50 and 120 centimeters high, mud-brick use, and gypsum finishing, pointing to a real investment in building quality.

The cumulative first-to-fourth seasons form part of a long-term project by the Saudi Heritage Commission to document the urban, commercial, and industrial development of Al-Ma'mala and integrate it into national heritage narratives, in line with the cultural sector goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

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