Medieval tombstones unearthed in Mecca car park dig
Medieval tombstones unearthed in Mecca car park dig
A dig in a car park in the Muslim holy city of Mecca has delivered some unexpected results.
1 min read
The haul includes a tombstone dating to the year 1257 [Getty]
A haul of 24 engraved artefacts was unearthed during a car park dig in the city of , local media reported.
A spokesperson for the Secretariat of the Holy Capital, Engineer Raed bin Abdullah Samarqandi, said that tombstones were among the items, including one which dates back to the year 1257.
The items have been handed over to the Saudi ministry of tourism.
Saudi Arabia's tourism commission was recently elevated to become a ministry just months after the kingdom started issuing tourist visas for the first time.
King Salman's upgrade of the government body overseeing tourism reflects the growing importance of the sector to boost the kingdom's non-oil revenue.
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The conservative kingdom, under fire over human rights abuses, has accelerated investment in PR campaigns promoting tourism and the country's historical sites.
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