The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area World Heritage Site

Official name

The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area | UNESCO

Country

Saudi Arabia | Map

Continent

Asia

Location

19.7649° Lat, 45.1633° Lon | Map

Code

1712

Time Zone

Asia/Riyadh (+03, +0300)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 2024. Lying at a strategic point of the ancient trade routes of the Arabian Peninsula, the property was abruptly abandoned around the 5th century CE. Nearly 12,000 archaeological remains have been found, spanning from prehistoric times to the Late pre-Islamic era, testifying to the successive occupation of three different populations and their adaptation to the evolving environmental conditions. Archaeological features include the Palaeolithic and Neolithic tools of early people, tapered structures, cairns and circular constructions, the sacred mountain of Khashm Qaryah, rock carvings, funerary tumuli and cairns in the valley, forts/caravanserai, the oasis and its ancient water management system, and the vestiges of the city of Qaryat al-Faw.