DOHA: Qatar Museums (QM) has announced the discovery of a formerly unknown petroglyph site in the centre of the Qatari Peninsula.

The new site contains petroglyphs that are commonly known as “rosette” and consist of a central cupmark circularly surrounded by several other cupmarks. In the Gulf region this type of rock carving is unique to Qatar and is believed to have been used for a children’s game.

Since last week, QM’s Department of Archaeology has been performing extensive survey activities to document the site in detail. It is expected that the new discovery will provide more accurate clues about the function and dating of the carvings, as well as their relationship with the other sites found around Qatar.

Commenting on the discovery, Faisal Al Naimi, Director of the Department of Archaeology, stated: “The newly discovered site is another addition to Qatar’s diverse archeological locations and a testament to the impact that our ancestors have had on the land. We are still conducting site surveys and tests but we believe that the well found close to the site gives us an idea about the Qatari community that lived here at a certain point in history. We also noticed that the number of “rosette” carvings here far exceeds the ones found in Al Jassasiya, making this site an important historical witness.”

QM’s Department of Archaeology was alerted about the site’s location after a call from Ali Mutar Al Dosari, whose family has lived in the area for generations. Since his childhood, Al-Dosari had noticed the carvings near the well but only realised their potential significance after hearing about QM’s work in archeology and heritage conservation. “Ever since I can remember, I have always been intrigued by these carvings and their story,” said Al Dosari. “When I heard about Qatar Museum’s work in the field of archeology, I knew that I must contact them immediately.”

Since its inception, QM has been putting local communities, young and old, in touch with their past, reminding them of the skills, wisdom and struggles of their ancestors.