Wales Qatar Archaeological Project

Ruwaydha

Ruwayda is a large coastal site located in a shallow bay on the north-western tip of Qatar between the deserted settlements of al-Khuwair and al-Jumayl. The remains comprise a large fortress and extensive traces of a settlement stretching for two and a half kilometres along the shore. The site comprises the following  main elements:-

  1. Eastern area of Islamic settlement comprising remains of rectilinear buildings and surface scatters of pottery (glazed and plain wares), glass and copper alloy fragments.
  2. Qal’at Ruwayda- this is the largest single structure on the site measuring approximately 150 metres per side with towers at each corner. The interior of this structure comprises four separate walled areas each containing traces of structures.
  3. Western area of settlement – this extends fo a distance of more than one kilometre to the west of Qal’at Ruwayda and is of similar character to the Eastern area with the remains of rectilinear structures and surface scatters of pottery, glass and copper alloy fragments.
  4. Cemetery area. This is located at the western end of the Western area of Settlement and comprises two square walled cemetery areas.
  5. Deserted village and compound with walls standing to an average height of 1.0 metres.
  6. Area of  flint knapping spreading over an area of approximately 700 metres to the south of Qal’at Ruwayda.
Qatar Photo 

Significance

The site has both local and international significance. From a local perspective this is a large, probably urban, site which fits into the pattern of eighteenth century development of the northern coast of Qatar (cf al-Huwaiylah and al-Zubarah). The site contains ample evidence of exploitation of marine resources  and the use of a shallow bay as a harbour. Offshore lies the largerst pearl bank in the Arabian Gulf and one of the largest in the world.  From an international perspective Ruwayda is one of a small number of maritime sites in Eastern Arabia and the Arabian Gulf to contain remains both from the early modern period (18th century) and possibly the medieval Islamic period. Also the range of material visible on  the surface points to wide ranging trade networks with East Africa, China and India.

The fortress or large enclosures at the site may also have significance in terms of Islamic architecture perhaps representing either fortifications or some form of social organization.

(A report on the first season of excavations is published in Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 40, 2010)