BAHA - The Al-Baha Museum has unveiled the history of many civilizations stretching back almost 8,000 years. The museum displays fossils and old tools from the Stone Age dating back to around 3500 BC. There are also archeological relics from the Mousterian Age. A Holy Qur'an dating back to 1380H, donated by Crown Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, is displayed in a prominent place in the museum. The museum, which is situated in the middle of Al-Baha, was founded in 2003. On the outside it depicts the region's architectural heritage such as archeological inscriptions and pictures of old villages. This is in addition to the metallic stones which have been brought from some areas in Al-Baha. The aim of the establishment is to highlight the cultural and historical aspects of the governorate of Tiama as one of the most important commercial centers of the ancient North Arabian Peninsula and to inform and educate the community. The museum is located on an area of 2,000 square meters. The museum consists of four parts – a hall, administration offices, library and warehouses. Its entrance hall has Qur'anic verses describing the relationship between religion and archeological studies, a brief history of the Kingdom and an introduction to the most important monuments and historical sites of the region. The second hall depicts various prehistoric ages including a set of stone implements and pottery pieces, paintings and some inscriptions before the advent of Islam. The third hall focuses on the Islamic era starting from the migration of the Prophet, peace be upon him, to Madina, the Caliphs and the rest of Islamic history. The fourth hall contains a set of wooden implements and some clothes and jewelry, and a range of cooking utensils and farming implements.
