The Historic Jeddah Program announces the discovery of two ebony poles in the Othman bin Affan Mosque

The Jeddah Historical Program announced the discovery of two ebony wood masts in the Othman bin Affan Mosque – may God be pleased with him – dating back to the first and second centuries AH (the seventh and eighth centuries AD). The two masts are classified as among the oldest artifacts discovered at the site so far.

The excavation teams found two octagonal columns made of rare ebony wood in the mosque’s niche, and they are likely to date back to the early Islamic era, specifically during the first and second century AH (the seventh and eighth century AD), according to laboratory analyses, while scientists believe that the two poles date back to an earlier stage. From the construction of the mosque, the lower sides of the mihrab were placed as decorative elements.

Scientific studies conducted at the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin indicate that the two columns are of the finest types of rare ebony wood, as its original habitat dates back to the island of Ceylon in the Indian Ocean.

Archaeologists also transferred more than 250 other wooden samples from 52 historical buildings for study in specialized international laboratories to determine their habitats and ages.

The number of architectural stages discovered in the Othman bin Affan Mosque so far has reached seven chronological stages, as preliminary results of existing scientific studies indicate that the oldest part of the mosque dates back to the period of the third and fifth centuries AH (the ninth and eleventh centuries AD).

It is noteworthy that the discovery of the two masts in the Othman bin Affan Mosque – may God be pleased with him – comes within a group of archaeological discoveries announced by the Historic Jeddah Program as part of the results of the first phase of the Archeology Project, which resulted in the discovery of 25 thousand remains of archaeological materials in 4 archaeological sites in Historic Jeddah. It represents a qualitative leap in understanding the city’s cultural succession, highlighting archaeological sites with historical significance, caring for them, and enhancing their historical status.