One of the archeological sites discovered at Al-Jifr in Hail recently. — Courtesy photo HAIL – A resident's discovery of a jar containing hundreds of rare old coins has led archeologists to a site dating back 10,000 years. The coins which the man found in his house in Al-Jifr last year were traced back to the time of the Abbasid caliphate era. Now a recent dig has unearthed evidence of a civilization dating back to the stone age. Dr. Khalid Muhammad Al-Sakoobi, spokesman for the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), said: “We have discovered a range of circular stones dating back to the stone age, earlier than 10,000 BC.” “Because of these discoveries inside Al-Jifr Village, the village was listed among the archeological sites registered in the SCTA,” he added, according to a report in Asharq Al-Awsat. King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is working with SCTA on the site. The small village is now buzzing with talk of treasures and antiquities. Archeological teams are using ultra-modern sensory equipment to conduct site work. These include cutting-edge geophysical surveillance equipment and ground radars. The team's next step will be to conduct more research and preserve the site of the village. This is one of several cooperation agreements between the SCTA and the KACST to discover antiquities. Al-Jifr site is considered one of the most important Islamic cities from the Abbasid caliphate. Hail itself has around a 100 archeological sites which it is hoped will become a major source of income, enticing tourists from the region and beyond.
