RIYADH — The Saudi Heritage Commission announced the results of the 2025 archaeological excavation season of the Saudi-Chinese mission at Al-Serrain archaeological site in Allith governorate in the Makkah region. This is part of the commission’s efforts to document and study coastal archaeological sites and enhance understanding of the civilizational landscape of Islamic historical cities and ports along the Red Sea coast.
Excavation works during the season revealed architectural extensions, including documentation of residential, service, and storage units, as well as pottery kilns reflecting daily life activities. The season documented diverse archaeological finds, including various types of pottery, ceramic incense burners, stone tools, agate beads, and glass, alongside organic materials such as shells and animal bones, reflecting the diversity of the site’s inhabitants’ economic and daily activities.
Among the most notable discoveries was a fragment of a Chinese ceramic jar dating to the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127 AD), bearing remnants of a decorative seal with partially damaged, illegible Chinese script, serving as an archaeological testament to commercial contact between southern China and the Red Sea coast during the Islamic era.
The Heritage Commission reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing excavation and study at Al-Serrain in the coming seasons, aiming to build a comprehensive scientific understanding of the site’s settlement history and urban development, and to highlight its value as one of the most important historical ports on the Red Sea coast.
Source: Saudi Gazette