Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — The Makkah Mayoralty disclosed that it had handed over 24 artifacts to the Ministry of Tourism. The pieces of heritage were uncovered during digging works for the smart parking lot project near Al-Moalla Cemetery in the holy city.

The handing over ceremony was held in the presence of the Mayor of Makkah Eng. Mohammed Al-Qwaihes and Secretary-General of the Tourism Development Council Hisham Madani, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Eng. Raed Samarqandi, the spokesperson of the mayoralty, said that the discovered antiquities included inscriptions and antiques written in Arabic calligraphy, one of which dates back to the year 655 AH.

He said that following coordination with the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Tourism, and these artifacts were handed over to the ministry as the competent authority for their custody.

he spokesman said that the contractor is continuing the construction work for the smart parking project after the Ministry of Tourism, in coordination with the Services Agency at the mayoralty, inspected the site.