SAUDI ARABIA’S FARASAN ISLANDS ARE HOME TO NEW ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES

Mon 08 August 2022:

The Heritage Authority stated on Thursday that a team of Saudi and French archaeologists had discovered new discoveries going back to the second and third centuries AD in Saudi Arabia’s Farasan Islands.

A folding Roman shield made of copper ingots was discovered by the combined Saudi-French team.

The team also discovered “Lorica squamata” armor, which was most commonly used during the Roman era between the first and third century AD, and was the rarest piece discovered during their excavations.

They discovered an inscription garnet for “Genos,” a famous Roman figure, according to the official Saudi Press Agency, in addition to the head of a small stone statue.

A team of Saudi and French archaeologists have unearthed new discoveries in Saudi Arabia’s Farasan Islands dating back to the second and third century AD. (SPA)

A team of Saudi and French archaeologists have unearthed new discoveries in Saudi Arabia’s Farasan Islands dating back to the second and third century AD. (SPA)

A joint Saudi-French team previously visited the island in 2005 and identified locations with archaeological indicators before surveys began in 2011.

Previous excavations conducted between 2011 and 2020 led to the discovery of several architectural and archaeological discoveries, unveiling significant sites, and providing significant insight into the role of historical ports in the southern part of the Kingdom as well as their role in trade within the Red Sea area.