Saudi Gazette report

MADINAH — A team of archeologists from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) recently unearthed more remains of an ancient castle in Madinah’s Al-Aqeeq Valley (Wadi Al-Aqeeq).



The remnants included major portions of the castle, which dates back to the Umayyad era in the first century Hijra, covering an area of 1,200 square meters.



The ruins were discovered during the third phase of excavations currently being carried out by SCTA’s archeological excavation division.



Dr. Khaled Bin Muhammad Askoubi, head of the team, said it was revealed in new excavations at the site of Urwa Castles (Qusur Urwa) that the castle contains a third courtyard, a number of rooms and a kitchen.



Qusur Urwa was named after Urwa Bin Al-Zubair, grandson of Caliph Abu Bakr.



The castle, which was built on a mountain, overlooks Al-Aqeeq Valley and its walls and foundations were built with stones cut from the nearby mountains. Its gate was on the southern side and its architectural units spreading around its three courtyards.



Askoubi said that main construction materials discovered during the third excavation included marble and glass, as well as steatite utensils and ceramics that show how far the Islamic ceramic industry developed during the first and second Hijri centuries.



Several pieces of glass utensils and artifacts as well as metal tools apparently used for decoration purposes were also discovered.



The pottery pieces included cups, plates and jars of clay and porcelain.



The porcelain work clearly indicated that they belonged to the first and second centuries of the Islamic calendar.



The railway line of the Hijaz Railway of the Ottoman period also cut across the valley with a bridge to connect both sides.



The excavations were made in three consecutive seasons on a hill in the southeastern side of the 80 km long valley, which was densely populated in ancient times.



Askoubi said there are several historical, geographical and religious sources that spoke volumes about the significance of the valley in ancient times. Records showed that the valley hosted several castles that belonged to prominent figures in the early Islamic history, including the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) companions such as Saeed Bin Al-Aas, Marwan Bin Al-Hakam, and Saad Bin Abi Waqas, besides the castle of Sakeena, daughter of Hussein, and farms of Abu Hurairah.



The fertile land in the valley was also good for farming and had several gardens.



Each castle had farms with full of date palm trees, grape and other fruit gardens.