1,100-Year-Old Gold Hoard Discovered in Saudi Arabia's Dariyah

At the ancient pre-Islamic town of Dariyah in Saudi Arabia's Al Qassim region, around 100 gold jewelry pieces, estimated to be 1,100 years old, have been found. This treasure includes intricately designed floral motifs embellished with vibrant stones, beaded bracelets, and gold spacers. The discovery occurred during the fourth excavation season, which commenced in 2021, led by the Saudi Heritage Commission under the Ministry of Culture, focused on safeguarding cultural heritage. Earlier excavations at this UNESCO site revealed stone foundations, pottery, glass shards, and Islamic inscriptions. This season also uncovered stone foundations, mud walls, fire hearths, plastered rooms, pottery, and metal tools from the late ninth century C.E., during the Abbasid Empire. The treasure's origins are unclear, but its opulence and location along the Basran Hajj route hint it may have belonged to a merchant, a wealthy family, or a pilgrim. Archaeologists intend to persist with their excavations.