The renowned Egyptologist and former Egyptian Minister of Culture, Zahi Hawass, stated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has completed its archaeological excavation project in the Dawadmi Governorate at the site of "Halit." This announcement by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia demonstrates the importance of the site, which dates back to the early Islamic era.
He added: "The archaeological evidence is strikingly widespread across the surface of the Halit site, despite its small size of 100 metres wide and 200 metres long. There are many glass and pottery tools scattered there, in addition to many broken vessels and stone pestles."
The great Egyptologist stated in exclusive statements to Saudi Interaction: The “Halit” site in Al-Dawadmi Governorate was one of the important mining sites in the Umayyad and Abbasid eras, and the biggest evidence of that is that the site was mentioned by the name “Al-Najadi Mining” in early historical sources in reference to its owners, the descendants of… Najad bin Musa bin Saad bin Abi Waqqas.
Research results revealed the settlement's market, consisting of architectural units and adjacent rooms with side entrances near the previously discovered mosque. The shapes and sizes of the pestles and tools used in mining varied.
Zahi Hawass pointed out that the site of "Halit" is one of the most prominent mining sites in the Arabian Peninsula in ancient times, confirming that a coin dating back to the year 85 AH was found, bearing Arabic inscriptions.
Egyptologist and former Minister of Culture Zahi Hawass continued, saying: The infrastructure of the Halit site is integrated and highlights the civilizational role of the Arabian Peninsula. The inscriptions found on the inscriptions and coins at the site have been matched by previous scientific analyses.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is keen to document and preserve the Halit site and its history as one of the Kingdom's most important monuments, as part of the Kingdom's project to preserve its cultural heritage under the supervision of Prince Bandar bin Abdullah bin Farhan.
