By Ahmad Maeedi and Qaiyed Aal Joa'rah NAJRAN – A team of archeologists at the historical town of Al-Akhdoud in Najran has uncovered new finds dated to several different periods of history. Awad Al-Zahrani, team's head and director of museums at the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) said the finds were uncovered during recent excavations. The team is working on the renovation of the Al-Akhdoud site, and its historic fort and surrounding area. The work is part of the SCTA program to turn the site into an open-air museum. Al-Zahrani said the SCTA had also approved a project to open six new museums at a cost of SR150 million. The museums will be in Najran, Jizan, Al-Jouf, Al-Ahsa, Taima, and Al-Ola in Madaen Saleh. “Already existing museums will be turned into centers of archeological study and research,” Al-Zahrani said. “The new museums will have 8 exhibit halls presenting each area's history from prehistory to this day.” Al-Zahrani said the plans would be submitted soon to the Ministry of Finance for budget approval.
