Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has wrapped up the inaugural season of its joint scientific mission with the University of Exeter at the Al-Juhfah Miqat site, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The first phase uncovered more than 1,700 artifacts, including pottery, glass, stone fragments, shells, and worked objects, highlighting the site’s historical significance along the Egyptian pilgrimage route.
Among the discoveries were everyday-use fragments, six pottery kilns, a water channel likely used by pilgrims and travelers, as well as 13 tombstones from the Umayyad and Abbasid eras.
Interestingly, some of the artifacts trace their origins to the Levant, Egypt, and Ethiopia, underscoring the diverse backgrounds of pilgrims who passed through the miqat.
Located 187 kilometers northwest of Makkah, Al-Juhfah Miqat has served as an established pilgrimage station since the early Islamic period, with historical links to the Prophet’s migration.
The site is also known to have flourished in the second Hijri century, supported by water facilities and shops serving pilgrims.
This joint scientific mission stands as a testament to the Heritage Commission’s ongoing efforts to survey and document archaeological sites along the Hijrah route between Makkah and Madinah.
The commission has further developed advanced technologies to unearth the historical and civilizational legacy of the Kingdom.
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