Archaeological Excavations Reveal 1200-Year History Of Othman Bin Affan Mosque In Jeddah

The Jeddah Historic District Program recently shared insights from the archaeological excavations at Othman bin Affan Mosque, marking a significant phase in the Archaeology Project in Historic Jeddah. This exploration brought to light fascinating details about the mosque's extensive history, revealing artefact fragments that trace back nearly 1,200 years.

According to the findings, the mosque has seen numerous renovations and reconstructions throughout its existence. Notably, its most recent modern structure was erected in the late 20th century (14th century AH), maintaining the traditional architectural style characteristic of the region's mosques at that time. This style typically features an open courtyard leading into a roofed prayer hall. Despite various changes over the millennia, the mosque's size, orientation, and mihrab niche have remained remarkably consistent.

The alterations to the mosque primarily involved its elevation and flooring style. Initially featuring clay tile and plaster, the flooring eventually transitioned to flagstone, which was in use for about 400 years. The floor level was raised during renovations, with flagstone flooring being reused until the early 20th century AD.

An intriguing aspect of the mosque's evolution is the construction of an underground cistern system beneath it. Archaeologists discovered these cisterns filled with crystal-clear water, untouched for almost 800 years. The presence of such cisterns highlights historic Jeddah's innovative solutions to water scarcity.

The excavation unearthed thousands of archaeological finds that illustrate the mosque's long history. Among these discoveries were fragments of 11th century AH (17th century AD) Chinese blue and white porcelain and 4th-6th century AH (11th-13th century AD) Chinese Celadon ware, known for its soft green-grey coloured glaze. Additionally, some of the earliest artefacts found include fragments of white, green, and yellow glazed pottery dating back to the 3rd-4th century AH (9th-10th century AD).

This archaeological endeavour not only sheds light on the architectural and cultural evolution of Othman bin Affan Mosque but also enriches our understanding of historic Jeddah's societal advancements over centuries.

With inputs from SPA