The Early Islamic Archaeology of the Dammam region in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Eastern Arabia refers to the area between Oman and Kuwait, historically known in Early Islamic sources as the Bahrayn region. Recent years have witnessed an increasing focus on the Early Islamic archaeology of this region, especially in Qatar, to some extent in the Emirates, and also in Bahrain. Evidence suggests a significant increase in settlement and activity in the first century or two following Islamisation. However, the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia has largely been overlooked. I conducted two seasons of surveys in August and September 2022, and again in August 2023, for my PhD research at Durham University. These surveys covered the Al Jubail, Al-Qatif/Dammam area, as well as Al-Hofuf (Al-Hasa). The work revealed that this area also boasts many significant early Islamic sites dating to the late seventh, eighth, and ninth/tenth centuries. A total of 33 sites have been identified, mostly concentrated in the area between Al-Qatif and Al-Hasa. This research raises significant questions about some current theories that suggest an economic and agricultural decline occurred in Eastern Arabia immediately post-Islamisation (e.g., Wilkinson, 1977: 133-155; Al-Naboodah, 1988: 220-235; 1992: 81-96). The work also sheds light on the nature and organisation of settlements and the developing material culture of early Muslim society.