Arab News: RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has found a marketplace structure and the remains of a mosque at the Al-Serrain archeological site, along with rare pottery bearing a Chinese stamp, discoveries that reflect the depth of the site’s commercial activity in ancient times.

The commission has announced the results of the fourth season of the joint Saudi-Chinese mission in Al-Lith governorate in the Makkah region, which aims at documenting the site and revealing its commercial relations and cultural artifacts, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Excavation works during the season revealed architectural extensions in several excavation squares within the site’s grid, including residential, service, and storage units, as well as pottery hearths reflecting aspects of daily life.

They also uncovered a wall surrounding the site along its southern, northern, and western sides, allowing a clearer understanding of the site’s organization and urban boundaries.

Excavation within the architectural context also revealed the remains of a mosque on the southwest side of the site.

The season documented a variety of archeological finds, including pottery of various types, clay incense burners, stone tools, agate beads, and glass, as well as organic materials such as shells and animal bones, reflecting the diversity of the economic and daily activities of the site’s inhabitants.

Among the most notable documented discoveries is a fragment of a Chinese ceramic jar dating back to the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127), distinguished by remnants of a decorative stamp bearing damaged and illegible Chinese characters.
This is considered archeological evidence of trade connections between southern China and the Red Sea coast during the Islamic era, the SPA added.

The Al-Serrain site is believed to have been one of the most prominent ports on the Red Sea coast. It played a pivotal role in trade, Hajj, and navigation between Yemen, Makkah, East Asia, and Africa, reaching its peak of cultural prosperity during the fourth and fifth centuries A.H. (about 913-1106).

The site witnessed urban and commercial activity from the third century A.H. and contributed to linking maritime trade networks between the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, and the ports of the Islamic world, benefiting from its location at the mouth of a seasonal valley that provided a natural environment suitable for human settlement.

The commission has affirmed the continuation of excavation and study works at the Al-Serrain site in the coming seasons as it aims to build a comprehensive scientific understanding of the history of settlement and urban development. It also aims to highlight the cultural value of the site as one of the most important historic ports on the Red Sea coast.