Archaeologists excavating the pre-Islamic town of Dariyah in Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia, uncovered a glittering hoard of gold jewelry about 1,100 years old. Excavations began in 2021 to protect and preserve cultural sites from potential threats. The jewelry was recovered during the fourth season, which focused on documenting the site’s historical development, architectural features, and material finds. The set includes about 100 pieces of golden jewelry that appear cohesive, with hand-formed and hammered gold sheetwork shaped into floral motifs and set with colorful stones. Beaded bracelets and gold spacers suggest the pieces could be arranged in multiple configurations. Additional finds include late ninth-century building foundations, mud walls, fire hearths, plastered rooms, pottery vessels, and metal tools from the Abbasid period.
"Excavations at the historic, pre-Islamic town of Dariyah started in 2021, according to Arab News, in a bid "to protect and preserve cultural sites in the Kingdom from potential threats." The newfound Dariyah treasure hailed from this mission's fourth season, which was dedicated to "documenting the site's historical development, architectural features and material finds," a press release from the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture's Saudi Heritage Commission explained."
"Many of these pieces-which advanced artisans expertly hand-formed and hammered from gold sheets-exhibit luscious floral forms, their petals and pistils adorned with colorful stones. Several strands of brilliantly beaded bracelets also appeared-as did gold spacers capable of configuring these baubles into varied arrangements. This most recent excavation also yielded further stone building foundations, as well as mud walls, fire hearths, plastered rooms, pottery vessels, and metal tools-all dating back to the late ninth century C.E."
"Renowned for ushering in the Islamic Golden Age, the Abbasid period also produced scores of relics that have tantalized archaeologists this past decade alone, including a cache of gold coins and a jug that a cat left its paw print on. At prese"
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